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HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  &  CO. 
BOSTON  AND  NEW  YORK. 


MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER 


BY 


CLARA   LOUISE   BURNHAM 


BOSTON  AND  NEW  YORK 

HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND  COMPANY 
(Cbe  fttoewi&e  fittes,  Cambri&ge 

1897 


Copyright,  1897, 
BY  CLAKA  LOUISE   BURNHAM. 

All  rights  reserved. 


The  Riverside  Press,  Cambridge,  Mats.,  U.  S.  A. 
Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  H.  O.  Houghton  and  Company 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTBB  PAGE 

I.   HOMEWARD  BOUND 1 

II.   THE  EGG-ROLLING 16 

III.  MOUNT  VERNON 29 

IV.  PULPIT  POINT        .......        45 

V.    AMATEUR  SURGERY 61 

VI.  AN  IMPROMPTU  PICNIC 76 

VII.   EDGEWATER 94 

VHI.  VACATION 108 

IX.  THE  ''  BAPTIZE  "       . 120 

X.   FORTRESS  MONROE 133 

XI.   IN  THE  STUDIO         . 147 

XII.  THE  LIEUTENANT  OFFENDS          ....       163 

XIII.  UNDER  THE  WILLOWS 177 

XIV.  Miss  ARCHER'S  CONFIDANT         ....      195 
XV.   A  BICYCLE  RIDE 211 

XVI.  Miss  TOOTHAKER'S  APPEAL        ....       227 

XVII.   AT  THE  BALL 238 

XVIII.   GREEK  MEETS  GREEK 249 

XIX.  A  MIGRATION 269 

XX.  BESIDE  THE  BOULDER          .....      282 

XXI.  ON  THE  ISLAND  297 


499215 

LIBRARY 


i  ^  I.';1' 

MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

HOMEWARD    BOUND. 

Miss  DEXTER  had  arrived  at  that  stage  of  sea 
sick  misery  where  one  fears  the  ship  will  not  go 
down.  She  lay  supine  in  her  berth,  and  watched 
the  garments  hanging  on  the  opposite  wall  sway 
out  toward  her,  as  if  they  had  suddenly  become 
sentient,  and,  tired  of  inaction,  were  coming  over 
to  discover  the  cause  of  her  doing  so  long  without 
them.  Especially  did  the  big  buttons  on  her  ulster 
glare  at  her  like  curious  eyes,  nearer  —  nearer,  with 
the  strain  and  quiver  of  the  ship,  which  this  time 
heeled  over  with  such  persistence  that  it  seemed 
an  impossibility  that  it  could  ever  right  itself. 

But  Nathalie  Dexter  had  no  hope  of  this.  The 
motion  had  recurred  too  often.  She  knew  the  ship 
would  right  itself,  and  she  turned  her  head  away 
from  the  glare  of  the  fiendish  button-eyes  and  the 
smothering  effect  of  the  advancing  dress  brigade. 

"  Oh !  "  A  little  scream  from  the  door  of  her 
cabin  broke  in  upon  her  sick  oppression.  The  ship, 


2  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

in  struggling  for  her  perpendicular,  had  evidently 
robbed  Mrs.  Archer  of  hers. 

11  »>  i  MffX,  Archer  was  Nathalie's  chaperon,  —  a  woman 
^th  the  steadiest  of  heads  and  the  most  cheerful 
non-comprehension  of  mal  de  mer  ;  and  the  recum 
bent  sufferer  gained  a  remote  gleam  of  satisfaction 
as  she  realized  that  Mrs.  Archer  had  just  come 
into  involuntary  and  sudden  contact  with  the  jamb 
of  the  door. 

"  Does  n't  she  roll,  though !  "  exclaimed  the  vis 
itor.  "  I  believe  my  shoulder  is  black  and  blue." 

Nathalie's  vague  pleasure  deepened,  even  though 
she  perceived  feebly  that  the  retiring  ulster  would 
be  back  in  a  minute. 

"How  are  you  feeling,  this  evening?"  pursued 
the  strong  voice. 

"  Thanks,"  murmured  Miss  Dexter. 

Mrs.  Archer  saw  her  lips  move,  but  heard  no 
thing. 

"Well,  one  day  less,"  she  remarked  with  a 
laugh.  "  You  do  look  forlorn  !  Ah !  "  with  an 
other  little  cry.  "  This  won't  do  for  me.  I  think 
I  '11  go  and  lash  myself  to  something.  Good 
night  ; "  and  Nathalie  was  alone. 

She  closed  her  eyes.  Tears  had  stolen  from 
them  many  a  time  since  she  started  on  this  voyage  ,• 
but  they  did  not  come  now.  She  thought  of  the 
woman  who  had  just  left  her.  She  had  fallen  to 
Mrs.  Archer's  charge  unexpectedly,  and  at  the  last 
minute  almost,  before  sailing  for  home,  and  that 


HOMEWARD   SOUND.  3 

lady  had  taken  her  duties  very  lightly.  She  had 
not  even  engaged  a  seat  for  Miss  Dexter  at  table 
when  they  started,  and  Nathalie  had  the  mortifi 
cation  of  being  obliged  to  retire  from  the  dining- 
room  after  entering  and  finding  it  full,  and  after 
ward  to  make  her  own  arrangements  with  the 
steward. 

Mrs.  Archer  was  a  Philadelphian  by  birth  and 
breeding,  and  although  she  had  married  a  Virginia 
gentleman  whose  pride  of  blood  she  adopted  after 
his  death,  her  worship  of  the  Quaker  City  and  of 
its  old  families  never  weakened.  She  had  now 
been  making  a  short  sojourn  in  Europe  in  charge 
of  a  Scion  of  one  of  these,  and  her  absorption  in 
her  sacred  trust  made  it  quite  impossible  that  she 
should  take  more  than  a  nominal  interest  in  Na 
thalie  Dexter,  a  girl  recommended  to  her  care  by 
a  mutual  friend,  and  who,  while  presentable  and 
sufficiently  well  behaved,  had  failed  to  be  born  in 
Philadelphia,  and  if  she  had  been  born  there,  would 
probably  have  been  reared  on  the  wrong  side  of 
Market  Street. 

Miss  Dexter,  being  an  independent  New  Eng- 
lander,  and  discovering  in  a  day  how  the  land  lay, 
determined  not  to  annoy  Mrs.  Archer  and  her 
select  charge  ;  and  had  she  been  as  well  as  on  the 
smooth,  happy  trip  over,  with  her  mother,  a  year 
before,  she  would  probably  have  been  sufficiently 
amused  by  the  humorous  aspects  of  the  situation 
to  have  retained  undampened  spirits. 


4  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Seasickness,  however,  obliterating  as  it  does  all 
earthly  interests,  swamps  first  of  all  the  sense  of 
humor;  and  that  daily  momentary  apparition  at 
the  door,  of  her  perfunctory  chaperon,  whose  atten 
tions  had  never  exceeded  this,  seemed  to  Nathalie 
insult  added  to  the  injury  of  her  lonely,  miserable 
day. 

The  following  morning,  the  ulster  clinging 
meekly  to  the  wall,  the  girl  came  to  the  daring  de 
cision  to  put  it  on  and  to  attempt  to  get  on  deck. 

Finally  dismissing  the  kind  but  over-busy  stew 
ardess,  she  crawled  up  the  stairway,  down  which 
gleamed  the  blessed  light  of  day. 

A  tall  man  standing  idly  above  her,  his  hands 
crossed  behind  him,  and  gazing  into  nothingness, 
heard  her  stumble,  and  turning,  became  instantly 
alert. 

There  was  a  singing  in  her  ears  that  made  her 
unmindful  of  what  he  said.  She  knew  that  he  was 
big  and  strong,  and  seemed  friendly  inclined,  and 
that  in  some  way  he  got  her  into  her  steamer  chair 
and  tucked  a  rug  about  her ;  and  that  the  hurrying 
wind  dashed  life  into  her  face  and  kept  her  from 
fainting  as  she  lay  back,  too  limp  to  do  more  than 
breathe. 

Mrs.  Archer  materialized  from  somewhere. 

"There,  now,  that  is  quite  the  most  sensible 
thing  you  could  do,"  she  remarked  brusquely. 
"You  know  I  told  you  so,  days  ago.  If  people 
would  only  use  a  little  more  will  power.  '  Come 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  5 

on  deck,' — that  is  what  I  always  say  to  them, — 
'  come  on  deck ! ' ' 

While  she  spoke,  the  lady  cast  a  sharp  side 
glance  at  the  tall,  smooth-shaven  stranger  in  the 
big  overcoat.  He  acknowledged  it  by  lifting  his 
cap ;  then,  after  a  moment's  hesitation  and  a  look 
at  Miss  Dexter's  white,  immobile  face,  he  moved 
away. 

Nathalie  did  not  speak.  It  was  a  physical  im 
possibility  to  do  so.  So  Mrs.  Archer,  after  a  few 
more  words  concerning  the  unwisdom  of  yielding 
to  inertia,  returned  to  the  congenial  circle  she  had 
temporarily  deserted. 

"  I  had  to  go  and  speak  to  my  Yankee,"  she  ex 
plained.  "  She  has  no  more  stamina  to-day  than  a 
wet  rag ;  and  the  kindest  thing  is  to  let  her  alone." 

Nathalie,  in  her  half-alive  state,  had  little  idea 
of  the  passage  of  time ;  but  at  one  point  in  her 
morning  the  deck-steward  appeared  at  her  side 
with  some  refreshment. 

She  lifted  her  eyes  to  him  weakly  and  shook  her 
head ;  whereupon  the  Tall  Man  loomed  beside  her. 

"  You  had  better  take  something,"  he  said ;  and 
she  obeyed,  ashamed  to  have  him  see  her  hands 
tremble. 

At  intervals  again  through  the  day  she  ate  at 
his  bidding,  and  when  finally  she  went  below,  it 
was  his  arm  that  she  clung  to,  limply,  until  the  door 
of  her  cabin  was  reached. 

"I   thank  you,"   she   said,  looking  up  into   his 


6  MISS   AEHER  ARCHER. 

calm  eyes.  She  hadnever  before  known  what  it 
was  to  be  stirred  to  hr  depths  with  gratitude. 

That  night  she  slpt;  and  the  next  morning, 
when  she  climbed  upthe  stairway,  he  was  waiting. 
A  touch  of  the  comicappealed  to  her  through  her 
feebleness  when,  aftr  he  had  hastened  to  assist 
her  to  her  chair  andprovide  for  her  comfort,  Mrs. 
Archer  suddenly  appared  as  before,  and  with  un 
easy  glances  and  pititudes  waited  until  she  had 
seen  him  off  to  a  saf  distance,  and  then,  her  dun- 
done,  returned  to  he  chosen  companions. 

The  Tall  Man,  Aving  already  comprehended 
the  situation,  again  ssumed  charge  of  the  invalid's 
diet.  Nathalie's  had  was  still  unsteady,  and  her 
weakness  made  he)  answers  to  him  monosyllabic, 
as  he  stood  besid*  her  with  his  slightly  bowed 
shoulders,  and  hads  crossed  behind  him  in  his 
usual  attitude ;  bu  it  was  not  quite  such  a  dead 
weight  that  afternon  that  he  at  last  assisted  down 
the  staircase. 

"  I  wonder  if  01  the  following  day  it  will  *  all 
happen  as  before,'is  the  fairy  tales  say  ?  "  thought 
Nathalie  that  nigh,  as  she  fell  asleep. 

But  it  did  not.  The  Tall  Man  met  her,  and 
when  she  was  seatd  Mrs.  Archer  scurried  forward 
to  drive  him  off ;  >ut  after  he  had  gone,  the  chap 
eron  did  not  immdiately  follow  his  example.  In 
stead,  she  loweret  her  voice  and  let  her  offended 
glance  fall  upon  Nathalie. 

"  I   wish,  Mis  Dexter/"  she   said,    "  that   you 


HOMEWARD    BOUND.  1 

would  cease  to  allow  marked  attentions  from  that 
stranger.  It  is  very  disagreeable  to  me  for  you  to 
become  the  talk  of  the  ship." 

Nathalie  had  been  fed  into  strength  sufficient  to 
feel  her  indignation  rise ;  but  she  thought  of  her 
mother  and  tried  to  control  herself. 

"  I  should  think  it  was  obvious,"  she  said  faintly, 
"  that  a  limp,  white  thing  like  me,  with  her  cap 
awry,  is  simply  an  object  of  charity." 

"  Pshaw !  Your  hair  is  curly !  "  answered  the 
other ;  and  the  unexpected  retort  cheered  Miss 
Dexter. 

"  He  is  a  young  man,  and  very  good-looking," 
went  on  Mrs.  Archer  austerely. 

Generations  of  New  England  directness  looked 
up  through  the  girl's  gray  eyes  into  the  ones  above 
her.  "  He  evidently  has  a  heart  in  his  bosom," 
she  said  distinctly. 

"Oh,  indeed!  And  you,  perhaps" —  The 
speaker  paused,  and  the  unspoken  sneer  brought 
color  into  Nathalie's  face. 

"  Stop  right  there,  Mrs.  Archer !  "  she  exclaimed 
hastily.  "  I  have  n't  given  you  very  much  trouble 
since  we  started,  I  think.  I  am  entirely  able  to 
look  after  my  own  affairs." 

Mrs.  Archer  bit  her  lip  and  fingered  her  chate 
laine,  but  after  a  little  hesitation  she  retreated,  for 
Miss  Dexter  was  looking  out  to  sea  and  appeared 
to  consider  the  interview  ended. 

The  Tall  Man  was  glad  to  see  expression  in  the 


8  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

eyes  that  had  been  so  vague,  and  he  said  as  much 
the  next  time  he  drew  near. 

She  smiled  up  at  him.  "You  have  converted 
me  to  being  glad  that  my  bones  are  not  turning  to 
coral,"  she  replied. 

"  Were  you  so  low  ? "  he  asked ;  and  then  he 
drew  a  seat  near  her. 

"  Yes.     I  have  been  very  ill,  and  very  homesick." 

"  Ah !     You  are  not  an  American,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  am ;  but  —  at  the  last  moment  my 
mother  decided  that  her  duty  was  to  stay  in  Italy 
with  a  sick  friend,  and  "  —  the  girl  made  a  praise 
worthy  effort  to  smile  again  —  "  what  is  America 
without  a  mother  ?  " 

"  Your  courage  will  return  with  your  digestion," 
answered  her  companion,  conscious  of  the  quiver 
of  her  lips,  and  settling  himself  more  definitely  in 
his  chair  with  a  view  to  conversation. 

Nathalie,  disciplining  herself  with  such  mental 
expletives  as  "  Cry  baby !  Goose  !  Imbecile  !  " 
wiped  her  eyes  stealthily. 

"  America  is  a  very  good  place,"  he  went  on, 
gazing  out  to  sea.  "  I  am  very  glad  to  be  going 
back  to  it.  I  suppose  you  have  been  in  Philadel 
phia?" 

Miss  Dexter's  face  at  once  symbolized  an  April 
day. 

"  Oh,  dear  !  "  she  said.  "  Are  you  from  Phila 
delphia,  too  ?  " 

The  Tall  Man  looked  around  at  her.  "  Yes. 
Why  not?" 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  9 

"  No  reason  at  all  why  not.  Every  reason  why 
you  should  be.  You  will  be  shocked,  of  course,  to 
hear  that  I  never  have  been  there ;  but  I  shall 
make  the  pilgrimage  some  day.  Has  the  city 
really  golden  streets  ?  " 

Her  companion  looked  puzzled  before  he  smiled. 
"  Some  one  has  been  boring  you  about  our  town. 
Well,  I  like  it  too ;  but  we  can  talk  about  some 
thing  else,  —  where  you  live,  for  instance." 

Nathalie  met  his  questioning  glance,  already 
grown  grave  again.  Yes ;  he  was  really  very 
good-looking,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word ;  and 
he  was  scarcely  over  thirty.  She  hoped  Mrs. 
Archer  was  watching  them. 

"  Oh  !  "/really  do  live  in  the  Hub  of  the  Uni 
verse,"  she  answered. 

He  reflected  her  smile.  "  And  yet  you  are  in 
tolerant  of  egotistical  Philadelphians  ?  The  com 
placence  of  Bostonians  has  almost  passed  into  a 
proverb." 

"  Yes,  I  know  it.  My  father  was  a  Connecticut 
man,  and  he  always  liked  to  make  a  little  fun  of 
his  adopted  city." 

The  Tall  Man  noted  the  softened  glance  and  the 
use  of  the  past  tense,  and  discerned  that  neither 
was  there  a  father  in  that  motherless  America  to 
which  the  girl  was  returning  alone,  or  worse  than 
alone. 

"  I  have  been  in  your  city  many  a  time,"  he 
said. 


10  MISS  ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Perhaps  you  may  have  heard  of  my  father, 
Dr.  Dexter  ?  "  she  said  tentatively.  "  He  was 
quite  well-known." 

No,  her  companion  had  not  heard  of  Dr.  Dex 
ter. 

"  He  died  two  years  ago,"  she  went  on.  Then 
she  swallowed  with  difficulty.  "  I  being  the  only 
child,  mother  and  I "  —  Here  her  speech  stopped, 
and  after  a  second  she  smiled  with  tremulous 
brightness  at  her  companion  through  the  tears 
that  this  time  she  frankly  wiped  away. 

"  I  don't  know  what  makes  me  so  ridiculously 
weepy  this  morning,"  she  said.  "I  cry  if  one 
speaks  sharply  to  me ;  and  then  if  one  looks 
kindly  at  me,  I  cry.  It  seems  to  be  a  monotonous 
way  of  taking  things,  does  n't  it?  " 

"You  need  something  to  eat,"  said  the  Tall 
Man,  looking  around  for  the  steward. 

"  Indeed  I  don't.     Indeed  —  not  yet." 

"  I  think  you  do.  I  do,  any  way.  Excuse  me, 
and  I  will  see  about  it." 

He  withdrew,  and  Miss  Dexter  leaned  back  in 
her  chair  and  took  deep,  quiet  breaths  until  she 
had  regained  the  poise  of  which  her  tilt  with  Mrs. 
Archer  had  robbed  her. 

By  the  time  her  benefactor  returned,  she  was 
able  to  join  him  in  the  lunch  that  was  served 
them. 

"  You  are  very,  very  kind  to  me,"  she  said.  "  I 
think  by  another  day  I  shall  not  need  to  be  a  bur- 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  11 

den  to  any  one.  My  father  was  careful  about 
teaching  me  what  to  do  in  emergencies,  but  he 
never  told  me  any  panacea  for  seasickness !  " 

"  That  is  something  I  'in  afraid  you  won't  find," 
responded  the  Tall  Man,  as  he  ate  his  sandwich. 

"No.  We  are  always  hearing  that  common- 
sense  goes  a  good  way  ;  but  this  does  appear  to  be 
a  case  where  it  doesn't  help.  It  seems  strange, 
sometimes,  to  see  how  astonishingly  little  common- 
sense  a  person  may  have.  I  once  had  such  a  pain 
ful  experience.  I  was  out  in  the  country,  and  a 
tiny  insect  flew  into  my  ear.  He  fluttered  in 
deeper  and  deeper,  in  spite  of  my  efforts  to  get 
him  out,  and  at  last  he  began  to  amuse  himself 
beating  my  ear-drum,  —  that  is,  I  suppose  so.  At 
any  rate,  whatever  he  did  hurt  me  terribly,  and 
made  my  brain  seem  all  to  be  buzzing.  The 
nearest  doctor  lived  ten  miles  away,  and  I  had  to 
drive  to  his  house,  enduring  this  misery  all  the 
time.  When  I  reached  him  finally,  he  put  some 
instrument  into  my  ear,  and  the  insect  fluttered 
more  madly  than  before.  I  will  spare  you  the 
harrowing  details  ;  but  I  was  in  agony  before  he 
succeeded  in  getting  out  even  a  piece  of  the  crea 
ture,  and  when  I  came  back  to  Boston  and  told 
father  about  it,  he  made  me  sit  right  down  while 
he  gave  me  a  lecture  on  emergencies.  What  do 
you  suppose  I  could  have  done  for  my  own  relief, 
and  that  country  doctor  ought  of  course  to  have 
known  enough  to  do  ?  " 


12  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  I  don't  know,"  responded  the  Tall  Man ; 
"  I  'm  not  a  country  doctor." 

"  Well,  can't  you  think  ?  It  is  so  simple.  I 
felt  silly  when  father  told  me." 

"  Go  on,  and  make  me  feel  silly ;  for  really,  I 
can't  think  what  should  be  done." 

"  No,  because  it  is  so  easy.  I  should  have 
dropped  a  little  oil  into  my  ear  and  clogged  the 
creature's  wings.  Then  he  could  n't  have  flut 
tered,  and  could  have  been  removed  at  leisure." 

"Capital!  Can't  you  go  on  with  my  educa 
tion?" 

Mrs.  Archer  observed  this  interview  from  afar 
with  indignation  ;  and  the  next  day  she  approached 
Nathalie,  triumph  in  her  reproving  mien. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  listen  to  me  now,"  she  said. 
"  The  lady  who  has  the  cabin  next  to  that  man 
has  had  her  diamonds  stolen,  and  many  people  on 
the  ship  believe  that  he  has  taken  them  !  " 

Miss  Dexter  was  standing  this  time,  and  she 
returned  her  chaperon's  gaze  without  excitement. 

"  Impossible  !  "  she  answered,  smiling.  "  He  is 
from  Philadelphia." 

Mrs.  Archer  flushed.  "  There  are  rogues  in 
Philadelphia." 

"  Really  ?  Well,  I  don't  believe  he  has  stolen 
any  diamonds ;  and  I  certainly  shall  not  alter  my 
treatment  of  him,  —  if  that  is  what  you  mean." 

"Oh!  Very  well!  I  wash  my  hands  of  the 
responsibility  ; "  and  Mrs.  Archer  flounced  angrily 
away. 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  13 

The  Tall  Man's  conscience  appeared  to  be  either 
clear  or  callous  as  he  approached  Nathalie  later 
and  asked  her  to  walk.  She  soon  found  herself 
talking  to  him  as  to  an  old  friend.  She  told  him 
how  she  had  been  studying  the  piano  for  the  past 
year,  and  how  she  meant  to  work  all  summer,  and 
of  her  hopes  that  the  great  Brandon  of  Boston 
would  let  her  into  the  elect  circle  of  his  pupils  the 
following  winter ;  and  he  told  her  in  return  how 
he  considered  it  of  paramount  importance  that  a 
girl  should  have  a  special  line  of  work  and  develop 
it  to  the  utmost,  thereby  securing  at  once  her  use 
fulness  and  independence.  She  thought  his  manner 
rather  amusingly  judicial  for  a  man  of  his  years, 
but  she  did  not  say  so ;  and  they  were  very  friendly 
indeed  as  they  passed  Mrs.  Archer  and  her  coterie, 
unconscious  of  the  withering  glances  which  glided 
harmlessly  off  them. 

At  last  came  the  final  day  of  the  passage.  The 
Tall  Man  asked  Nathalie  if  he  might  meet  her  and 
take  her  in  to  the  last  festive  dinner.  She  as 
sented  ;  and  the  diamond  accusation  having  come 
to  naught,  Mrs.  Archer  only  bridled  when  she  was 
informed  of  the  fact. 

"  I  shall  do  my  duty  by  you,  Miss  Dexter,  for 
Mrs.  Annersley's  sake,"  she  announced.  "  She 
requested  me  as  a  favor  to  take  care  of  you,  and  I 
insist  that  you  remember  that  I  am  chaperoning 
you  as  well  as  my  sweet  bud  here,"  and  she  im 
printed  a  chaste  kiss  on  the  round  forehead  of  the 
Scion. 


14  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

They  were  waiting  in  the  salon  for  the  sum 
mons.  All  three  had  discarded  the  salted  gar 
ments  of  the  sea  and  donned  trim  walking  dress. 
Suddenly  there  entered  from  the  further  door  the 
Tall  Man.  He  paused,  before  approaching,  to 
speak  to  a  friend. 

Sweater,  ulster,  outing-cap  had  disappeared,  and 
he  was  buttoned  to  his  smooth  chin  in  clerical 
black. 

Mrs.  Archer  clutched  Nathalie's  arm  and 
gasped  :  "  Why,  he 's  a  priest !  " 

"So  I  see,"  returned  Nathalie,  equally  aston 
ished. 

"From  Philadelphia,  you  said,"  pursued  the 
other,  in  awestruck  tones.  "  Some  of  the  best 
people  there  are  Roman  Catholics !  " 

"He  told  me  yesterday  he  was  a  professor  of 
philosophy  in  some  institution,"  said  Nathalie. 
"  Here  is  his  card." 

Mrs.  Archer  snatched  it  eagerly.  "  Lewis  An 
dreas  !  An  Andreas  of  Philadelphia !  "  The 
blood  retreated  to  her  heart.  Her  thoughts  were 
in  such  a  whirl  that  she  momentarily  forgot  her 
sweet  bud.  Here  she  had  been  entertaining  an 
angel  unawares  —  No,  that  was  the  mischief  of 
it!  She  might  have  been  entertaining  him,  —  and 
she  had  failed  to  do  so ! 

Truly,  there  are  bitter  moments  in  life. 

The  object  of  her  fascinated  gaze  turned,  and 
catching  sight  of  Nathalie,  smiled  toward  her,  and 


HOMEWARD   BOUND.  15 

saying  a  last  word  to  his  friend,  began  to  move  in 
her  direction. 

Mrs.  Archer's  grasp  tightened  on  Nathalie's 
arm.  "Shall  I" —  she  ejaculated  in  a  whisper. 
"  Would  you  call  him  '  Father  '  ?  " 

Miss  Dexter  freed  herself.  "  No,  I  don't  think 
•I  would,"  she  returned  dryly. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE   EGG-ROLLING. 

• 

APRIL  came  in  tearfully  that  season  in  Wash 
ington  ;  nor  can  the  most  devoted  lovers  of  the 
festive  city  deny  that  he  who  anticipates  balmy 
breezes  there  during  the  early  spring  will  be  dis 
appointed.  It  is  an  eager  and  a  nipping  air  that 
rushes  about  the  Monument  and  sweeps  down  the 
broad  avenue  from  Capitol  to  White  House.  No 
where  does  one  cling  more  fondly  to  furs  in  March 
under  a  deceptive  smiling  sky. 

But  Easter  Monday  there  came  one  of  the  relent 
ing  days  when  the  tree-buds  stretch  rejoicingly  and 
the  sparrows  chatter.  It  had  rained  during  the 
morning,  and  every  child  in  Washington,  without 
regard  to  sex  or  color,  had  been  flattening  his  and 
her  little  nose  against  the  window-panes  and  cast 
ing  imploring  glances  at  the  sky.  It  was  their 
day,  —  the  day  of  the  annual  egg-rolling  in  the 
"  White  Lot "  behind  the  President's  home. 

Countless  little  baskets  stood  ready  with  their 
gayly-colored  eggs,  and  it  was  not  only  the  sky  that 
rained  tears  as  the  precious  morning,  slipped  by. 

"  '  Between  the  hours  of  eleven  and  two 

Is  the  time  to  see  what  the  weather  will  do,'  " 


THE   EGG-ROLLING.  17 

muttered  Priscilla  Toothaker,  as  after  lunch  she 
stood  at  her  window  and  looked  out. 

"  It 's  pretty  near  two  now,  and  I  guess  it 's 
goin'  to  clear  off." 

The  speaker  was  not  one  of  the  children,  nor 
did  she  have  any ;  but  she  felt  for  the  little  things, 
and  she  welcomed  the  rifts  in  the  sky.  "  Now,  if 
it  comes  off  real  clear,  an  hour's  good  shinin'  ought 
to  dry  up  the  grass  enough  so  's  they  can  go,"  she 
thought.  "  I  don't  know  but  I  '11  go  myself." 

Sure  enough,  out  came  the  sun  with  clear,  ardent 
rays,  and  before  the  hour  was  ended  the  streets 
began  to  swarm  with  little  folk  from  mansion  and 
hovel.  White  and  black,  in  embroidery  or  calico 
patches,  they  flocked  from  all  directions  toward 
the  White  House,  —  as  if  the  President  had  the 
Pied  Piper  himself  for  a  guest. 

Miss  Toothaker  determined  to  follow  after.  She 
was  a  busy  woman,  for  she  kept  a  boarding-house, 
or  at  least,  she  took  charge  of  its  table.  A  man 
who,  he  said  himself,  knew  his  "p's  and  q's," 
knew  Miss  Priscilla,  and  knew  she  had  "  faculty." 
He  had  lured  her  two  winters  in  succession  from 
her  New  England  home  to  take  charge  of  this 
house  for  him,  because  his  wife  was  an  invalid, 
and  Miss  Toothaker  had  performed  the  task  to 
everybody's  satisfaction. 

"  I  'm  willin'  to  work ;  I  like  to,"  she  said ;  "  but 
I  won't  take  responsibility.  It  scares  me." 

Miss  Toothaker  was  a  person  not  often  troubled 


18  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

with  doubts.  Given  a  proposition,  she  knew  very 
quickly  what  she  wanted  to  do,  and  her  decision 
made,  she  did  it  with  her  might. 

She  decided  this  afternoon  that  she  was  going  to 
take  a  half -holiday  and  forget  what  there  would  be 
for  dinner.  She  was  her  own  mistress.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Barclay,  nominal  heads  of  the  house,  never 
interfered  with  her.  They  knew  better. 

"  I  'm  goin'  out,  Junius,"  she  said  to  her  black 
factotum,  a  youthful  person  in  a  high  shirt-collar. 

"  Yas  'm,"  he  replied,  with  a  gracious  air  all  his 
own.  "  I  reckon  it  don't  seem  to  be  so  cold  as  it 
feels  to-day." 

"  H'm,"  said  Miss  Priscilla,  who  did  not  always 
trouble  herself  to  respond  to  the  amiable  but  in 
volved  remarks  of  her  aid. 

"  I  s'pose  you  '11  be  back  in  the  co'se  of  quarter 
to  six  ?  "  pursued  Junius. 

"  Yes,  I  guess  so ;  but  keep  your  wits  about  you 
now.  It  won't  do  for  us  both  to  be  off  the  same 
time." 

"  Oh,  yas  'm.  I  won't  disremember  nothin'. 
Goin'  to  the  egg-rollin',  Miss  Pris?  I  thought  a 
while  ago  the  chillen  was  April-fooled  this  time, 
sure." 

Miss  Toothaker  was  pulling  down  window-shades, 
tying  her  bonnet-strings,  and  taking  last  looks 
about  the  dining-room  ;  so  Junius  proceeded  :  — 

"  Y'  ought  to  seen  a  man  git  April-fooled  oncet 
to  a  rest'rant  whar  I  worked.  He  took  his  meals 


THE   EGG-ROLLING.  19 

thar  reg'lar,  and  they  put  up  a  job  on  him.  He 
was  always  eatin'  apple-pie ;  so  they  brung  him  one 
filled  with  cotton  wool.  It  was  hot,  an'  it  looked 
so  greasy  an'  nice  he  shet  down  on  it,  an'  —  well, 
after  that  he  did  n't  order  no  more  apple-pie." 
The  speaker  grinned  appreciatively.  "  He  said 
the  crust  was  short  enough,  but  the  wool  was  too 
light  for  him." 

"  H'm.  Now,  don't  forget  to  fix  this  side-table 
for  Miss  Archer  to-night.  Don't  try  to  squeeze 
her  in  as  you  did  this  morning.  It  is  n't  comfort 
able.  Goodness !  I  ought  to  take  her  out  with 
me,  this  afternoon !  Mrs.  Barclay  is  n't  able  to. 
Go  see  if  Miss  Archer  is  home." 

"  She  ain't,  Miss  Pris.  Done  went  out  fo'  lunch, 
and  ain't  come  back.  Said  she  wanted  to  go  up 
in  the  doom  o'  the  Capitol." 

"  Well,  I  guess  she  '11  get  along.  With  a  tongue 
in  her  head  and  money  in  her  pocket,  she  won't 
get  lost.  Plucky  girl,"  added  Miss  Toothaker  to 
herself. 

"  She  's  got  kind  of  a  queer  tongue  in  her  haid," 
hazarded  Junius,  moving  a  castor  nervously.  Miss 
Priscilla  did  not  encourage  comments  on  the 
boarders. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  she  asked  curtly. 

"  She  kind  o'  talks  like  —  kind  o'  like  she 
couldn't  talk  real  —  real  plain  or  somethin',"  stut 
tered  Junius.  "  I  like  to  hear  her,  though,  fust- 
rate,  I  do.  It  sut'n'y  makes  me  want  to  laugh." 


20  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Miss  Toothaker  sniffed.     "  I  'm  goin'  now.     I  - 
depend  on  you,  remember.     See  that    everything 
goes  right." 

A  series  of  smiling  "  yas  'ms  "  followed  her  out 
the  door. 

She  took  a  deep  breath  as  she  stepped  forth  into 
the  sweet  air  so  full  of  "  green  things  growing." 

"It  feels  like  summer,"  she  soliloquized,  saunter 
ing  along  past  the  Arlington  and  toward  the  centre 
of  attraction.  Priscilla  seldom  sauntered.  She 
was  usually  going  somewhere  in  a  hurry,  and  it 
was  often  to  market ;  but  this  was  a  deliberately 
taken  outing,  and  she  meant  to  enjoy  it.  There 
was  not  a  frill  about  her  severe  and  simple  garb  ; 
yet  the  jauntily  shabby  carriage-drivers,  basking 
in  sudden  sunshine  against  the  curb  of  Lafayette 
Park,  discerned  her  holiday  spirit  with  their  usual 
uncanny  penetration,  and  starting  toward  her,  their 
ebony  faces  wreathed  in  ingratiating  smiles,  became 
voluble  :  — 

"  Drive  this  evenin',  lady  ?  Take  y'  all  round 
the  city,  cheap." 

She  shook  her  head  at  them.  "  Yes,  I  'in  out 
for  an  airin',''  she  addressed  them  mentally,  "  but 
when  I  spend  my  money  to  go  off  in  a  brooch, 
'foot  and  alone,  I  guess  you  '11  know  it." 

Then  the  park  allured  her.  The  shrieks  of  the 
sparrows  were  mellowed  in  the  budding  trees.  She 
stepped  within,  and  strolling  along  the  path  until 
she  reached  the  spot  where  Andrew  Jackson  in 


THE   EGG-ROLLING.  21 

bronze  reins  his  rearing,  mettlesome  charger,  she 
sat  down  on  an  iron  seat. 

"  I  '11  go  across  to  the  White  House  in  a  minute," 
she  thought.  "  Here  's  a  real  quiet  place  to  look 
over  my  letter." 

She  drew  from  her  pocket  an  envelope  with  a 
foreign  postmark,  and  took  out  the  thin  sheets 
within.  These  she  unfolded  and  read  carefully 
from  beginning  to  end,  not  without  an  occasional 
puzzled  frown,  and  an  uncomplimentary  allusion 
to  the  quality  of  the  paper  and  ink. 

Then  she  let  hands  and  letter  fall  into  her  black- 
silken  lap,  and  her  light  eyes,  with  all  their  little 
wrinkles,  kindly  and  anxious,  stared  before  her. 

At  that  moment  there  came  striding  down  the 
same  street  by  which  she  had  come,  a  masculine 
figure.  When  he  passed  the  carriage-drivers,  they 
stopped  their  chuckling  and  chaffing,  started  up  and 
stared  at  him  wistfully,  some  of  them  lifting  a  hand, 
but  they  did  not  venture  to  address  him.  It  was 
not  because  his  appearance  was  that  of  a  "  swell," 
although  they  recognized  that;  but  because  there 
was  such  an  unmistakable  air  about  him  of  being 
able  to  ask  for  what  he  wanted,  and  of  getting  it, 
too.  His  was  an  imposing  figure,  tall  above  the 
common,  flat  of  back  and  broad  of  shoulder,  and 
he  had  a  way  of  holding  in  his  chin  as  he  walked 
which  gave  him  a  military  erectness  of  bearing. 
Added  to  this,  the  firm,  heavy  curves  of  his  smooth- 
shaven  lips  and  chin,  his  large  nose,  and  well-set 


22  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

eyes  gave  him  an  appearance  of  power  which,  com 
bined  with  naturally  graceful  movements,  made 
him  noticeable  and  noticed  wherever  he  moved. 
He  was  as  accustomed  to  being  stared  at  as  the 
hero-actor  of  the  matinee  girl's  fancy,  and  certainly 
thought  less  about  it  than  must  the  man  with  whom 
such  popularity  gauges  success. 

He  had  been  one  of  Miss  Toothaker's  family  off 
and  on  during  her  two  Washington  winters,  and 
had,  moreover,  been  once  upon  a  time  nursed  by 
that  efficient  woman  through  a  severe  illness. 
Therefore  when  he,  also  attracted  by  the  aspect  of 
the  park,  turned  aside  and,  entering  it,  caught  sight 
of  her,  wrapped  in  her  brown  study  and  staring 
at  the  equestrian  statue,  he  halted  his  long  steps 
beside  her. 

"  If  here  is  n't  the  fairest  of  her  sex,"  he  re 
marked,  lifting  his  hat. 

Miss  Toothaker  raised  vague  eyes  to  him  and 
then  looked  back.  "  They  do  say  his  tail  balances 
him,"  she  said  musingly. 

The  young  man  hesitated,  then  dropped  upon 
the  rustic  seat  beside  her.  "  Miss  Pris,  there  is 
usually  so  little  subtlety  in  your  remarks  that  I 
feel  warranted  in  asking  you  to  explain  yourself," 
he  said. 

"  Do  you  believe  it  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I  should  have  to  be  introduced 
to  the  tail." 

Miss  Toothaker  was   accustomed  to  paying  as 


THE   EGG-ROLLING.  23 

little  attention  to  the  remarks  of  this  young  man 
as  she  gave  to  those  of  the  colored  boy  she  had  left 
at  home.  If  Junius's  effusions  savored  more  of 
heart  than  head,  so  did  those  of  this  personage 
more  of  head  than  heart.  She  did  not  understand 
him  half  the  time,  and  for  the  most  part  she  did 
not  complicate  existence  by  endeavoring  to  do  so. 

"  They  do  say  he  ain't  fastened  to  the  pedestal 
at  all,  —  just  balances  perfectly,  mane  and  tail." 

"  Oh !  you  are  referring  to  yon  quadruped  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Land  !  "  Miss  Priscilla  suddenly  started 
and  gasped. 

"What's  the  matter?" 

She  laughed  a  little  shamefacedly.  "  Did  you 
see  that  sparrer  go  into  the  horse's  nostril? 
Stopped  my  breath  right  up.  I  wish  't  he  'd  come 
out." 

"  Why,  Miss  Pris,  you  're  imaginative.  Who  'd 
have  thought  it  ?  "  and  her  companion  faced  around 
toward  her  and  leaned  his  elbow  on  the  back  of 
the  seat. 

"  Comes  from  havin'  a  vacation,  I  guess.  I  'm 
off  on  a  spree  this  afternoon." 

"  Indeed  ?  "  The  young  man  smiled.  "  Where  's 
your  cardinal  pigment  ?  " 

Miss  Toothaker  met  the  twinkling  light  in  his 
eyes.  "Hey?" 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  to  celebrate  ?  " 

"  I  'm  goin'  to  see  the  children  roll  eggs  after  I 
get  tired  of  Andrew  Jackson ;  but  I  thought  I  'd 
sun  myself  first." 


24  AflSS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"Quite  right,  lady.  Warm,  isn't  it?"  The 
speaker  lifted  his  hat  from  his  scrupulously  parted 
hair,  and  suppressed  a  yawn.  Resettling  his  hat 
and  regarding  his  companion  fixedly,  he  continued : 
"  It  is  a  pity  to  cloud  the  sun  for  you  by  referring 
to  a  bereavement  at  such  a  time,  but  I  meant  to 
speak  of  it  the  first  chance  I  had." 

"Goodness,  Mr.  Andreas,  what's  happened?" 
asked  the  kind  woman,  quick  to  perceive  the 
mournful  change  which  crept  over  her  compan 
ion's  face. 

"  I  've  lost  a  mouse  by  death,  up  in  my  room,  — 
in  the  closet,  I  think." 

"  For  pity's  sake !  Do  you  mean  you  smell 
it?" 

"  Dear  lady ! "  Mr.  Andreas  laid  his  gloved 
hand  on  hers  and  drew  his  brows  together  in  fas 
tidious  deprecation.  "  You  put  it  so  baldly !  But 
I  thought  if  you  would  set  Junius  on  the  —  the 
scent,  —  since  you  will  have  it  so,  —  it  might  be 
best  for  you  and  best  for  me." 

"  I  '11  see  to  it." 

"  And  one  more  thing.  If  I  must  be  squeezed, 
I  should  prefer  it  to  be  accomplished  by  youth 
and  beauty ;  but  when  it  comes  to  mealtimes,  I 
prefer  the  use  of  my  arms  to  any  amount  of 
sweet  womanly  propinquity ;  therefore  if  you  could 
make  it  convenient  to  withdraw  that "  — 

"  Miss  Archer  —  I  know." 

"Yes,  the  lovely  Archer.     Her  elbows  may  not 


THE   EGG-ROLLING.  25 

be  Cupid's  darts,  but  she  aims  them  with  the  cer 
tainty  of  the  little  god." 

"  Elbows !  I  guess  she  had  enough  to  complain 
of  between  two  such  creatures  as  you  and  Mrs. 
Rathbun,  poor  girl !  " 

"  O  Miss  Toothaker  !  "  emotionally.  "  It  makes 
me  thrill  to  have  you  class  me  with  Mrs.  Rathbun. 
Tell  me  honestly,  as  man  to  man,  does  n't  that 
amiable  woman  wear  reform  clothing? " 

"  It 's  none  o'  your  business  what  she  wears. 
She 's  goin'  to  learn  the  bicycle  to  reduce  her 
flesh." 

"  She  is !     Does  the  bicycle  know  it  ?  " 

Miss  Toothaker  laughed  a  little. 

"  What  bicycle,  Miss  Pris  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.     A  good  strong  one,  I  hope." 

Andreas  shook  his  head.  "  That  settles  it.  I 
shall  leave  Washington.  I  hope  I  am  an  ordina 
rily  brave  man ;  but  I  owe  it  to  my  family  not  to 
stay  in  the  same  town  where  Mrs.  Rathbun  rides  a 
wheel." 

"  It  was  merely  Junius's  mistake  about  Miss 
Archer,"  said  Miss  Toothaker,  reverting,  as  usual, 
to  practical  matters.  "  I  've  fixed  it  to  have  her 
seat  changed  to-night.  She  's  only  goin'  to  be  here 
two  or  three  days,  anyway.  You  know  she  's  the 
Barclays'  guest.  They  do  it  to  help  her  along,  I 
guess.  '  She  lives  down  in  Virginia,  and  does  some 
kind  o'  dinner  cards  or  favors,  or  triflin'  paintin'  o' 
some  kind  for  stores  here ;  so  she  came  up  to  see 


26  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

about  her  orders.  This  is  the  first  minute  I've 
had  to  help  her  any  to  sight-see  or  have  a  good 
time,  and  when  I  was  ready  to  come  out  this  after 
noon  she  'd  gone.  Kind  of  a  pretty  girl." 

"Pretty  is  as  pretty  does,"  returned  Andreas, 
with  gentle  reproach.  "  I  did  n't  get  a  fair  look 
at  her.  I  informed  her  that  it  was  a  cool  morning, 
and  she  showed  no  surprise.  Then  she  asked  me 
for  the  salt,  and  she  did  n't  seem  to  have  that  mas 
tery  of  the  letter  S  which  one  looks  for  from  a  girl 
who  does  up  her  hair." 

"  She  's  got  a  little  impediment,  and  that  South 
ern  talk  's  queer  anyway ;  but  it 's  cunnin',  too. 
The  way  she  always  says  '  Ah  '  for  '  I '  sticks  in 
my  mind.  I  'm  always  possessed  to  say  it  over 
after  her.  '  Yes  Ah  will  —  Ah  can  —  Ah  do,'  she 
says.  Then,  anyway,  you  need  n't  criticise !  You 
pronounce  hard  and  regard  and  such  words  's  if 
they  were  spelled  Tiord  and  regard,  yourself." 

"  Miss  —  Toothaker  !  This  personality  —  and 
from  you  ?  What  a  world  of  surprises  !  " 

"  I  should  think  it  was  a  world  of  surprises. 
Here  's  this  letter  just  came  to  me  this  mornin'." 
The  speaker  lifted  the  sheets  in  her  lap.  "  It 's 
from  the  best  woman  that  ever  breathed,  but  she 
puts  me  out.  She  expected  to  come  home  this 
spring,  and  now  she  's  got  to  stay  over  in  Italy, 
and  wants  me  to  fill  in  her  place  here  this  summer. 
A  relative  of  hers  has  lent  her  his  cottage  at  the 
seashore,  and  she  wants  me  to  go  there  —  it 's  up 


THE   EGG-ROLLING.  27 

in  Maine  —  and  open  the  house  and  take  charge 
of  her  daughter.  I  have  n't  seen  Nathalie  since 
she  was  a  little  girl  and  Dr.  Dexter  used  to  bring 
her  to  his  old  home  once  in  a  while." 

"  See  what  you  pay  for  having  '  faculty ' !  That 
is  what  Mr.  Barclay  says  you  have,  —  '  faculty.' ' 

"  I  can't  even  make  out  the  name  o'  the  place. 
See  if  you  can."  Miss  Toothaker  indicated  a 
word  on  one  of  the  pages. 

Her  companion  examined  it  a  moment,  then 
started  back  dramatically,  staring  at  the  paper. 

"  Is  it  ?  It  can't  be !  It  is  !  Miss  Pris,"  ten 
derly,  "  there  is  something  more  than  chance  in 
this.  We  are  not  constantly  thrown  together  in 
this  way  fof  nothing." 

"  For  mercy's  sake  speak  out !  "  said  Miss  Tooth 
aker. 

"  There 's  no  mistake  about  it.  Fate  intends 
that  you  shall  make  me  a  huckleberry-pie." 

"  Does  it,  indeed  ?     Well,  perhaps  /don't." 

"  That  place  is  Pulpit  Point ;  and  Pulpit  Point 
—  be  brave,  Miss  Pris  —  is  where  my  people  have 
their  summer  cottage." 

Miss  Toothaker  sniffed  and  took  back  her  letter. 
"  So  you  think  I  won't  get  rid  of  you  ?  " 

The  young  man  shook  his  head.  "  Not  unless 
Nathalie  is  awfully  disagreeable,"  he  returned. 
"  Why  don't  you  want  to  go  ?  "  he  added. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  I  s'pose  Nathalie  ain't  a 
child  any  longer.  I  s'pose  there  would  n't  be  so 


28  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

very  much  responsibility.  I  "  She  recalled  her 
wandering  thoughts  suddenly  and  rose.  "  I  ;m 
goin'  to  see  the  egg-rollin',"  she  said. 

Andreas  strolled  along  beside  her,  and  they 
looked  over  toward  the  teeming  lawn  of  the  White 
House. 

"  See  !  They  're  not  using  the  White  Lot,"  he 
remarked.  "  Too  wet,  perhaps.  How  many  fami 
lies  in  the  land  would  submit  their  grounds  to  be 
invaded  by  such  an  army  of  small  vandals?  A 
good  deal  is  expected  of  our  Executive,  don't  you 
think?  Thankless  job  being  President  of  these 
United  States,  anyway.  For  my  own  part,  I  've 
determined  to  refuse  the  nomination." 


CHAPTER   III. 

MOUNT   VERNON. 

THE  next  morning,  the  weather  not  having  re 
considered  its  pleasant  truce,  and  Russell  Andreas 
having  some  insurance  business  which  called  him 
to  Alexandria,  he  suddenly  decided  to  proceed 
thither  by  boat. 

He  settled  himself  in  a  quiet  corner  of  the  deck 
with  his  newspaper,  and  becoming  absorbed  in  its 
contents,  noted  nothing  of  the  passing  and  repass- 
ing  near  him  until  the  bell,  ringing  for  the  start, 
caused  him  to  look  up  and  discover  that  a  good 
many  people  beside  himself  had  taken  advantage 
of  the  sunny  morning  for  a  river  trip. 

He  let  his  glance  stray  mechanically  over  his 
neighbors,  and  it  was  quite  a  matter  of  course  that 
many  of  them  were  looking  at  himself.  Only  one 
face  did  he  recognize,  and  that  only  after  a  min 
ute's  waiting  to  make  sure  that  he  was  not  mis 
taken.  He  had  not  before  seen  her  with  a  hat  on, 
and  she  was  not  one  of  those  now  honoring  him 
with  an  inspection.  He  obtained  only  a  three- 
quarters  view  of  her  face  as  she  looked  absorbedly 
toward  the  river-bank. 

There  could  be  no  doubt,  as  time  went  on,  what 


30  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

she  was  watching  for,  for  when  the  boat  passed 
near  Washington  Barracks,  she  started  up  from 
her  chair  and  gazed  eagerly  at  the  unsatisfactory 
view  of  quarters  and  parade  ground,  the  dash  of 
bright  color  where  a  sentinel  guarded  his  post,  and 
the  stars  and  stripes  floating  over  all. 

Now  the  girl's  lips  parted,  and  her  color  deep 
ened  in  the  spring  wind,  while  the  soft  touch  of  her 
brown  hair  caressed  her  temples.  She  looked  very 
young  and  innocent  in  her  tall  girlhood ;  her  large 
blue  eyes  were  exceptionally  childlike  in  expres 
sion,  Andreas  thought,  —  for  by  this  time  he  had 
moved  to  where  he  could  see  her  eyes,  although  he 
was  careful  not  to  appear  to  observe  them.  He 
was  a  wary  young  man,  and,  owing  to  his  physical 
peculiarities,  more  accustomed  to  avoiding  snares 
than  to  setting  them. 

"  Yes,  it  is  Miss  Archer,"  he  decided,  "  and  she 
is  evidently  enamored  of  brass  buttons." 

When  the  Barracks  were  passed,  the  girl  sank 
back  in  her  chair,  but  still  looked  about  her  with 
interest. 

Andreas  recalled  what  Miss  Priscilla  had  said  of 
her.  The  statements  did  not  indicate  a  lively  ex 
istence.  There  was  a  certain  pathos  in  the  fact  of 
her  lonely  outing,  and  the  way  she  was  making  the 
most  of  her  little  holiday.  Too  bad  she  had  to  go 
about  in  this  solitary  fashion ;  and  all  the  time  he 
was  indulging  in  these  magnanimous  and  compas 
sionate  thoughts,  Andreas  was  holding  himself  in 


'MOUNT  VERNON.  31 

readiness  to  flee  if  the  girl-tourist  showed  symp 
toms  of  recognizing  him.  He  had  known  too  often 
what  it  was  to  be  seized  upon,  definitely,  irreme 
diably,  and  he  had  developed  marvelous  elusive 
ingenuity. 

How  fresh  and  sweet  she  looked !  Southern 
girls  were  a  nice  lot.  Though  slender,  she  was  not 
thin.  He  had  been  hypercritical  to  complain  of 
her  elbows.  It  was  a  moral  certainty  that  they 
were  rounded. 

Standing  thus  in  idle  meditation,  he  suddenly 
realized  that  he  had  relaxed  his  guard  unwarranta 
bly.  The  brown  head  turned,  and  the  blue  eyes 
under  the  wide  brow  ran  with  childlike  indifference 
along1  the  faces  of  her  neighbors.  Andreas's  time 

o  t^ 

had  come.  His  hand  stole  mechanically  toward 
the  hat  which  he  would  raise  in  turning,  and  then 
put  his  faith  in  his  long  legs.  She  was  a  Southern 
girl ;  she  would  not  attempt  to  detain  him. 

But  the  hand  did  not  reach  his  hat.  Miss 
Archer  saw  him,  —  there  could  not  be  a  doubt  of 
that ;  but  there  was  none  of  that  recognition,  — 
not  a  gleam  of  that  radiant  recognition  which  he 
was  most  apt  to  read  in  the  faces  of  his  woman 
friends.  The  blue  eyes  met  his  without  changing 
expression,  and  moved  steadily  onward. 

His  hand  dropped,  and  the  long  strides  were 
not  called  into  requisition.  Her  complexion  had 
shell-like  tints,  and  she  liked  brass  buttons  ! 

"  Too    shy    to  bow,    poor    thing,"   he    thought. 


32  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  After  all,  it  won't  be  so  far  to  Alexandria,  and 
it 's  lonely  for  her,  unsophisticated  little  girl." 

Whereupon,  the  magnanimous  impulse  being 
given  its  way,  in  a  moment  more  the  serene  blue 
eyes  were  looking  up  into  a  pair  of  brown  ones, 
as  Russell  Andreas  stood  beside  the  girl,  with 
uncovered  head. 

"  Good-morning,  Miss  Archer.  You  don't  rec 
ognize  me." 

She  did  not  change  her  position  at  his  advent. 
"  Yes,  I  do,  perfectly,"  she  said  with  calm  delib 
eration.  "  Yo  're  the  gentleman  who  showed  temper 
yesterday  because  we  were  so  crowded  at  table." 

"  I !  "  Andreas  laughed  in  his  discomfiture. 
"  I !  Showed  temper  ?  Miss  Archer !  " 

"Yes,  you  cert'nly  did.  A  sort  of  Jove-like, 
repressed  wrath,  you  know.  It  was  right  amusing. 
I  hit  yo'  arm  once  or  twice  on  purpose ;  but  then 
it  was  awfully  impolite,  and  I  had  no  business  to 
do  it." 

"And  you  were  well  punished  for  it,  too,"  re 
torted  Andreas,  who,  bewildered  by  her  drawl  and 
her  lisp  and  her  demureness,  could  not  decide  what 
this  innocent  impudence  might  betoken,  and  was 
only  conscious  of  being  suddenly  glad  that  Alexan 
dria  was  no  nearer.  "  You  were  put  at  the  side- 
table  last  evening  like  a  naughty  child." 

"  Oh,  the  side-table  is  a  great  improvement. 
Junius  treats  me  like  a  queen.  Won't  you  either 
step  aside  or  sit  down,  please  ?  Yo  're  so  big,  and 
I  've  never  been  up  the  Potomac  before." 


MOUNT    VERNON.  33 

Andreas,  in  whose  experience  this  was  the  first 
girl  who  had  preferred  scenery  to  him,  took  the 
alternative  in  an  exhilarating  condition  of  astonish 
ment.  She  went  on  talking,  imperturbably. 

"  I  live  on  a  creek  at  home,  but  this  river  is 
something  different.  I  was  so  glad  it  was  pleas 
ant  to-day,  for  I  must  go  home  to-morrow,  and 
I  've  never  been  to  Mount  Vernon  in  all  ma 
life." 

"Oh!  you're  going  to  Mount  Vernon?"  said 
Andreas. 

"  Yes,  of  co'se.     Are  n't  you? " 

Andreas  hesitated  a  perceptible  instant,  during 
which  the  interests  of  the  insurance  business  trem 
bled  in  the  "balance.  She  turned  her  innocent  face 
fully  toward  him  and  regarded  him  attentively. 
"  You  look  like  such  a  nice  man,"  she  said  mus 
ingly. 

"  I  am,"  admitted  Andreas,  with  prompt  ingenu 
ousness. 

"  Oh,  dear,  no."  She  smiled  for  the  first  time, 
faintly,  showing  the  edges  of  small  white  teeth ; 
and  it  was  at  that  moment  that  Russell  decided 
definitely  not  to  get  off  at  Alexandria.  "  Yo  're 
not  nearly  so  nice  as  he  is,  that  is,  I  don't  believe 
you  are.  He  is  a  priest." 

Andreas  raised  his  eyebrows.  "  Same  name  as 
mine,  perhaps  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  catch  yo'  name.  I  've  called  you  ma 
Lord  Touch-me-not." 


34  3//SS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

The  young  man  flushed.  "  Russell  Andreas,  at 
your  service,"  he  said,  lifting  his  hat. 

She  gave  a  soft  cry.  "  Not  Russell  Andreas  !  " 
she  exclaimed,  and  the  owner  of  the  name  con 
gratulated  himself  that  it  boasted  so  richly  of 
the  letter  S. 

Then  she  laughed,  —  the  most  mischievous,  bub 
bling  little  laugh  that  ever  fell  from  a  girl's  lips. 

"  I  think  that 's  too  funny,"  she  said. 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  You  will  have  to 
let  me  into  the  joke,"  he  answered. 

"  Why,  Ro  —  somebody  was  talking  to  me  about 
you  only  last  week." 

"Favorably,  I'hope." 

"  And  to  think  you  are  yo'  brother's  brother  !  " 

"  Why,  it  has  always  seemed  very  natural  to 
me.  You  know  him,  do  you  ?  "  « 

"I  met  him  at  Fort  Monroe.  Are  you  a  Ro 
man  Catholic,  too  ?  " 

"  No.  I  tell  Lewis  he  is  so  high  and  narrow,  I 
have  to  be  low  and  broad  to  balance  him.  Who  is 
it  who  has  been  talking  to  you  about  me  ?  " 

The  serene  blue  eyes  were  again  busy  with  the 
scenery.  "  Would  you  rather  know  who  he  is,  or 
what  he  said  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it  is  a  man  ?  I  am  not  afraid  to  hear  what 
any  man  says  of  me  ;  and  I  'm  curious  —  as  curious 
as  you  please." 

"  But  he  said  a  lot  of  things.  It  came  up  be 
cause  I  was  coming  to  Washington,  and  he  said 


MOUNT    VERNON.  35 

you  were  very  likely  here,  as  yo'  insurance  busi 
ness  often  called  you  this  way.  Some  of  the 
things  he  said  probably  would  n't  be  good  for  you 
to  hear,  but  I  '11  tell  you  one,  if  you  really  want 
me  to." 

"  Of  course  I  do." 

The  childlike  gravity  had  all  returned  to  Miss 
Archer's  face.  "  He  said  that  wherever  yo'  insur 
ance  didn't  take  you,  yo'  assurance  did." 

Russell's  short  laugh  had  a  conscious  ring.  It 
occurred  to  him  that  he  was  proving  the  truth  of 
this  assertion  at  the  present  moment. 

"  After  that  I  demand  your  friend's  address,  in 
order  that  I  may  call  him  out,"  he  said. 

"  Then  I  reckon  I  won't  give  it  to  you,  for  he 
is  n't  at  all  well." 

By  the  time  Mount  Vernon  was  reached,  these 
two  had  made  some  strides  in  their  acquaintance, 
and  Andreas  had  not  once  regretted  Alexandria. 
As  they  climbed  the  tree-laden  hill  toward  Wash 
ington's  tomb,  Andreas  spoke. 

"  I  have  given  you  my  full  name,  and  you  have 
not  returned  the  compliment." 

"  Is  n't  Archer  enough  for  you  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  good  name." 

"  I  fear  you  don't  half  realize  what  a  good  name 
it  is." 

Andreas  looked  at  her  questioningly,  but  the 
innocent  directness  of  her  gaze  was  absorbing  their 
surroundings.  They  were  approaching  the  iron 


36  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

grating  behind  which  reposes  the  eagle-crowned 
sarcophagus  of  the  Father  of  his  Country. 

"I  have  never  been  here  before,  either,"  said 
Andreas.  "  So  this  is  where  the  truthful  gentle 
man  lies  at  last." 

His  companion  shook  her  head.  "  You  should  n't 
say  funny  things  about  Washington."  Her  roving 
glance  embraced  the  fine  estate.  "  Let  us  go  on. 
It  is  more  beautiful  here  than  I  supposed." 

They  wandered  around  by  the  old  tomb  and  to 
the  pavilion,  where  they  sat  looking  down  the  steep 
bank  with  its  fine  trees,  to  the  stately,  broad  river. 

The  girl  looked  up  toward  the  pillared  mansion. 
"  I  should  like  to  live  here  with  a  steam  yacht," 
she  said. 

Andreas  smiled  at  her.  "  Would  you  ?  I  should 
prefer  to  live  here  with  a  lady,  —  a  very  nice  lady, 
you  understand.  Pretty,  and  amiable,  and  all 
that,  you  know." 

Birds  were  calling  each  other  from  height  to 
height  in  the  ecstasy  of  the  sunshine.  The  scat 
tered  tourists  did  not  interfere  with  the  effect  of 
breadth  and  seclusion  about  them. 

"  Oh,  that 's  very  natural  if  yo  're  in  love,"  she 
answered.  "  I  'm  in  love  with  steam  yachts.  I 
went  out  in  one  once  at  Old  Point  Comfort." 

"Out  —  out,"  repeated  Andreas,  pursing  up  his 
mouth.  "  If  I  could  pronounce  '  out '  the  way  you 
do,  I  would  n't  work  any  more." 

She  flushed  a  little.     "  You  say  enough  queer 


MOUNT    VERNON.  37 

things,"  she  retorted.  "  Yo  're  from  Philadel 
phia,  I  reckon." 

"  I  don't  see  what  you  mean ;  but  then,  if  you 
know  my  brother,  you  guess  that  easily.  When 
did  you  meet  him  ?  He  has  been  abroad  most  of 
the  winter,  and  has  just  come  home." 

"  Last  fall.  It  happened  I  met  him  twice,  for 
he  was  visiting  a  friend  of  mine.  That 's  the  way 
I  learned  that  there  were  some  nice  people  in  Phil 
adelphia." 

"  Indeed  ?  You  don't  trouble  yourself  to  flatter 
my  city." 

"  I  don't  need  to.  We  have  a  Philadelphian  in 
our  house." 

"  Look  here,  don't  rub  it  in  !  See  how  polite  I 
was  to  you  in  advance.  I  went  to  college  in  your 
State." 

"  The  University  of  Virginia.  Yes,  I  know  you 
did." 

He  stared.     "  You  do !  " 

She  suddenly  regarded  him  with  eager  interest. 
"Were  you  an  Eli?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Oh !  "  in  poignant  regret.  "  I  wish  I  'd  known 
you  at  that  time  instead  of  now ;  but  then,"  — 
with  a  shrug,  —  "I  dare  say  ma  hair  was  in  plaits 
then.  I  don't  suppose  you  would  have  looked  at 
me." 

Andreas  smiled.  "  Then  you  are  not  entirely 
given  over  to  the  military." 


38  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"The  military?"  she  repeated  with  interest. 
"  How  did  you  know  I  was  fond  of  the  military  ?  " 

"  I  watched  you  as  we  were  passing  Washington 
Barracks." 

"  You  did  ? "  No  one  seeing  her  wide  eyes 
could  have  doubted  that  this  news  surprised  the 
young  woman,  —  although  in  fact  she  had  been 
perfectly  aware  of  his  espionage  as  long  as  jit 
lasted.  "  That  was  very  rude  of  you.  However, 
seeing  you  have  discovered  it,  I  don't  mind  telling 
you  that  I  do  love  an  army  officer." 

"  Better  than  steam  yachts?  "  inquired  Andreas 
dryly. 

"  Oh,  yes.  An  army  officer,  you  understand," 
explained  the  girl.  "  I  prefer  steam  yachts  infi 
nitely  to  some  army  officers  of  ma  acquaintance." 

"Well,"  said  Andreas,  somewhat  stiffly,  "con 
sidering  you  have  so  much  mysterious  information 
about  me,  it  is  perhaps  only  fair  that  you  should 
tell  me  these  interesting  details  concerning  your 
self.  Shall  we  go  on  up  to  the  house  ? " 

"Yes."  She  slid  from  her  perch  on  the  rail, 
and  advanced  beside  him.  "  You  turn  rusty  some 
times,  ma  Lord  Touch-me-not,  don't  you  ? "  she 
added  after  a  silence.  She  met  her  companion's 
sudden  sharp  glance  with  eyes  that  sparkled  out  of 
their  usual  demureness. 

"  You  have  made  a  pun  without  being  aware  of 
it,  Miss  Archer." 

"  You  don't  suppose  I  would  make  one  being 


MOUNT    VERNON.  39 

aware  of  it,  do  you?  There,  that  piazza,  I  know, 
is  the  very  best  of  all,"  she  added.  "  Let  us  save 
it  until  the  last." 

She  was  so  fresh  and  simple,  she  spoke  with 
such  a  relish.  Andreas  wondered  if  that  officer 
might  not  be  her  brother.  He  would  believe  so 
for  the  present. 

They  strolled  around  the  house  to  the  garden, 
and  wandered  into  the  box-edged  paths. 

"  This  box  !  Think  what  it  has  witnessed  !  " 
said  Andreas,  impressed  by  the  gnarled  and  tough 
wood  of  the  pungent-smelling  border.  "  The  satin 
knee-breeches,  gold  snuff-boxes,  brocaded  skirts, 
and  court-plaster,  —  think  of  them,  right  here." 

"  Yes,"  returned  his  companion.  "  Supposing 
those  old  fogies  had  seen  a  few  bicycle  girls  rac 
ing  around  these  grounds :  I  suppose  it  would 
have  shocked  them  so  their  wigs  would  have  stood 
right  up." 

"  Miss  Archer  !  I  'm  afraid  there  is  a  hollow 
where  your  bump  of  reverence  ought  to  be.  And 
you  reproved  me  for  being  funny  about  Washing 
ton  !  Steam  yachts  and  bicycles  at  Mount  Ver- 
non !  You  grieve  me." 

"Oh,  but  Washington  is  different.  What  a 
splendid  place  this  would  be  to  entertain  in ! 
I  'd  like  to  give  a  German  here." 

"  Hush !  You  disturb  my  day-dream.  Don't 
speak  of  anything  more  lively  than  the  minuet ! 
Think  of  Washington  himself  dignifiedly  patrol- 


40  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

ling  that  majestic  piazza  and  straining  his  eyes, 
scanning  the  river  for  a  sail,  —  possibly  bringing 
him  vital  news.  Oh,  the  good  old  times  !  " 

"  Nonsense  !  "  remarked  the  girl  airily.  "  The 
good  new  times  have  spoiled  us  for  them." 

"  Miss  Archer."  Andreas  faced  her  squarely. 
They  had  reached  the  end  of  a  garden  path,  and 
the  girl,  by  his  sudden  motion,  was  placed  with  her 
back  to  a  greenhouse,  as  he  looked  directly  down 
into  her  face.  "  I  am  being  obliged  to  revise  all 
my  first  impressions  of  you.  I  had  no  idea  that 
there  were  any  new  women  among  the  soft-spoken, 
charming  maidens  of  the  South.  I  now  begin  to 
suspect  that  you  are  the  very  latest  thing  in  new 
women." 

She  returned  his  gaze  with  smiling  defiance. 
"Why  do  you  think  so,  Mr.  Rusty  Andreas?" 
She  drawled  the  name  teasingly. 

"What!"  He  laughed  and  frowned.  "You 
even  know  my  nickname  ? "  He  paused  and 
shook  his  head  slowly.  "  This  has  gone  on  long 
enough.  You  may  be  a  new  woman  of  the  most 
novel  description,  and  be  tolerably  independent  of 
men,  —  all  except  army  officers,  of  course,  —  but 
there  still  remains  a  slight  balance  of  physical 
strength  in  our  favor,  and  I  am  going  to  get  quite 
a  little  information  before  you  come  out  of  that 
corner." 

"  Oh,  you  must  n't  take  that  tone.  I  don't  like 
people  who  coerce  me.  Ask  me  prettily  as  we  go 


MOUNT    VERNON.  41 

up  to  the  house.  We  have  n't  been  in  yet,  and 
there  are  spinets  and  armchairs  and  vases  and 
lots  of  things  to  assist  yo'  day-dream." 

"  I  don't  care  for  detached  relics.     Do  you  ?  " 

"  Love  them.     Let  me  go." 

She  darted  lightly  to  one  side,  but  he  caught  her 
with  one  arm,  and  gently  but  irresistibly  set  her 
back. 

She  breathed  fast.  "  I  don't  want  to  take  part 
in  a  vulgar  romp,"  she  said. 

"I  wouldn't,"  he  answered.  Their  gaze,  half- 
laughing,  wholly  challenging,  met,  and  they  were 
mute. 

"  I  reckon  you  won't  lose  the  boat  ?  "  she  asked 
at  last. 

"  I  hope  not." 

"  Do  you  mean  you  would  ?  " 

"  If  you  insisted,  of  course  I  should  have  to.  I 
ought  not  to,  for  I  ought  to  stop  off  at  Alexandria 
sure,  going  back.  Perhaps  you  will  go  with  me. 
I  will  take  you  through  the  Braddock  house,  show 
you  the  black  mahogany  staircase  where  Sally 
Fairfax  came  tripping  down  to  dance  the  minuet 
with  Washington,  —  show  you  the  room  where  the 
deed  was  done,  —  show  you  the  deep  stone  cham 
bers  under  the  house  where  the  horses  were  kept, 
—  show  "  — 

"  Never  mind !  As  if  I  should  ever  go  any 
where  with  you  again,  when  you  treat  me  so ! " 

"  I  protest.     I  say  you  have  treated  me  so,  ever 


42  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

since  we  started.  Now  then :  What 's  your  first 
name?  Fair  exchange,  remember.  Rusty  An 
dreas  !  Well !  " 

She  flushed.  "  Do  you  remember  the  Mother 
Goose  riddle  beginning,  '  Elizabeth,  Betsy,  Bessie, 
and  Beth  ? '  That 's  ma  first  name." 

"  Oh,  well.  I  '11  think  that  over  and  take  my 
choice  later.  Your  middle  name,  please." 

"  Archer." 

"  No  — your  middle  name." 

"  Archer." 

"  Very  well,"  indifferently,  "  if  you  don't  care  to 
see  the  detached  relics  "  — 

"  Mr.  Andreas  —  I  'm  a  Virginian,  and  in 
George  Washington's  home  at  that." 

"  Then  what  is  your  last  name  ?  " 

"  Dear  me  !  Yo  're  an  awfully  stupid  man, 
are  n't  you  ?  " 

He  gazed  at  her  firmly.  "  I  can  stay  here  as 
long  as  you  can.  My  insurance  takes  me  to  Alex 
andria,  to  be  sure  ;  but  my  assurance  keeps  me 
here.  I  'm  coming  to  that  traducer  presently,  —  or 
to-night,  or  to-morrow  morning,  —  whenever  we  get 
to  him." 

"  I  wish  he  were  here  now,"  remarked  the  girl 
coolly.  "  He  would  have  you  out  of  that  path  in 
a  twinkling." 

The  decided  curves  of  her  captor's  mouth  wid 
ened  over  his  even  teeth.  She  read  his  expres 
sion. 


MOUNT    VERNON.  43 

"  Oh,  yes,  he  could  do  it,  too,  although  he  is  n't 
quite  so  big  as  you  are ;  —  or  he  could  if  he  were 
well.  He  is  n't  at  all  well." 

"Then  as  he  isn't  here  and  isn't  well,"  said 
Andreas  gently,  "  don't  you  want  to  save  time  by 
telling  me  your  full  name  ?  " 

"  I  see  I  shall  have  to,  yo  're  so  slow  witted. 
I  'm  sorry  I  can't  do  it  in  words  of  one  syllable. 
Now  listen."  She  spoke  slowly.  "  Ma  name  is 
Elizabeth  Archer  Archer." 

At  her  companion's  look  of  surprise,  she  smiled. 
"  You  remember  the  story  of  the  old  woman  who 
was  entertaining  her  minister,  and  sweetened  his 
coffee  by  filling  his  cup  half  full  of  molasses? 
When  he  protested,  she  hushed  him,  saying  it 
wouldn't  be  any  too  good  fo'  him  if  it  were  all 
molasses.  Well,  I  've  always  been  convinced  that 
ma  father  did  n't  think  it  would  have  been  any 
too  good  for  me  if  ma  name  had  been  all  Archer." 

"  Elizabeth  Archer  Archer,"  mused  Andreas, 
putting  his  hand  to  his  temple.  "  Where  have  I 
heard  that  ?  " 

His  companion  laughed  low,  enjoying  his  per 
plexity.  "  You  don't  expect  to  compel  me  to  tell 
you  that,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"No,"  he  answered  absently,  still  chasing  the 
elusive  memory. 

"  Then  I  '11  surprise  you  by  ma  generosity. 
Might  it  have  been  at  the  University?  " 

A  light  broke  over  her  companion's  face.     "  My 


44  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

chum,  Gerard.  Best  all-around  fellow  in  the  class. 
Why,  I  do  believe  it  was  he.  You  were  the  little 
girl  whose  picture  stood  in  our  room.  He  went  to 
West  Point  afterward.  Why,"  more  light  irra 
diating  the  questioning  eyes,  "  it 's  he  —  confound 
him  !  —  it 's  Roger  Gerard  who  has  been  making 
epigrams  about  me.  It  is  he  who  is  your  army 
officer." 

"  Indeed  it  is ;  and  wait  till  he  hears  how  you 
wasted  my  time  at  Mount  Vernon,  blocking  the 
way  so  rudely,  and  keeping  me  penned  up  in  the 
end  of  a  blind  alley  !  He  '11  do  something  more 
than  make  epigrams." 

"  Was  he  —  I  forget  —  Is  he  any  relation  to 
you?" 

"  No,"  returned  Miss  Archer  loftily.  "  But 
that  does  n't  make  any  difference,  does  it?  " 

"  N-no,"  replied  Andreas. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PULPIT   POINT. 

SOMEBODY  has  likened  a  New  England  con 
science  to  "a  case  of  moral  hives."  That  of 
Priscilla  Toothaker  possessed  the  average  local 
irritability,  and  was  not  prone  to  allow  inaction  in 
its  owner. 

Mrs.  Dexter's  letter  had  prepared  her  to  receive 
another  from  Nathalie ;  and  in  due  time  this  ar 
rived. 

It  was  a  very  pretty  note  which  found  Miss 
Priscilla  in  Twombley,  Connecticut,  whither  she 
repaired  on  the  first  day  of  June,  her  Washington 
duties  ended.  She  left  that  city  a  mass  of  bloom 
and  foliage,  which  made  Twombley  look  bleak  by 
contrast.  Moreover,  Miss  Priscilla's  family  hav 
ing  one  by  one  died  or  married,  she  no  longer 
lived  in  her  old  home  in  Twombley,  but  boarded, 
when  she  was  there,  with  a  family  who  were  suf 
ficiently  kind  to  her,  but  to  whom  her  comings  or 
goings  mattered  little. 

Miss  Toothaker's  conscience  did  not  hesitate  to 
remind  her  that  she  was  foot-loose,  and  that  there 
was  no  good  and  sufficient  reason,  beyond  her  own 
disinclination,  why  she  should  not  oblige  Mrs. 
Dexter  at  this  time. 


46  MISS  ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"Neither,"  Miss  Priscilla  replied  defiantly  to 
this  suggestion,  was  she  "at  all  beholden  to  the 
Dexters."  She  had  earned  a  right  to  a  good  vaca 
tion,  and  no  one  could  criticise  her  if  she  chose  to 
take  it. 

Miss  Dexter  had  offered  in  that  pretty  note  to 
come  in  person  to  Twombley  and  talk  things  over 
with  Miss  Toothaker,  if  that  lady  would  like  her 
to  do  so. 

"Like  her  to,"  repeated  Priscilla  suspiciously. 
"  I  don't  know  as  I  like  anything  about  it.  I  don't 
know  why  they  should  pitch  on  me." 

"Every  reason,"  remarked  Conscience  inexora 
bly.  "  They  know  how  you  are  situated,  and  there 
are  very  few  —  perhaps  no  one  else  —  whom  they 
could  call  upon." 

"  Well,  I  won't  be  driven  into  it,  so  there ! " 
said  Miss  Priscilla,  quite  to  herself,  and  affecting 
not  to  have  heard  this  remark  of  Conscience  at  all. 
"  It  '11  just  be  chaugin'  the  place  and  keepin'  the 
pain  to  go  up  there  into  Maine  and  cook  and  keep 
house  again  all  summer,  and  I  'm  kind  o'  surprised 
that  Mrs.  Dexter  should  ask  it  of  me.  Perhaps 
it  would  be  better  for  me  to  see  the  girl  and  talk 
it  out.  I  wonder  what  she  's  like  ?  If  she  's  stuck 
up,  that  '11  settle  it." 

So  she  told  Nathalie  she  might  come,  and  by 
dint  of  constant  strengthening  of  her  own  position 
by  arguments,  and  unremitting  repression  of  Con 
science  that  untiringly  popped  up  like  a  Jack-in- 


PULPIT  POINT.  47 

the-box,  she  was  able  to  assume  a  non-committal 
and  discouraging  demeanor  when  one  day  she  went 
to  the  parlor  to  receive  her  young  guest. 

In  spite  of  her  knowledge  that  the  child  she  re 
membered  must  have  passed  twenty,  it  gave  her  a 
sensation  of  surprise  to  be  met  by  the  graceful  and 
elegant  young  woman  who  rose  at  her  entrance 
into  the  dim  and  shaded  room,  and  came  to  meet 
her  with  cordial  outstretched  hand. 

"  Here  I  am,  Miss  Toothaker,"  said  the  girl 
brightly. 

Priscilla  cautiously  received  the  hand,  her  own 
elbow  trussed  to  her  side.  "  I  thought  your  hair 
was  red,"  she  said,  inspecting  her. 

The  girl  laughed  frankly.  "  It  did  start  out  to 
be,  and  it  has  n't  entirely  relented,  you  see.  You 
don't  know  how  strange  it  seems  to  be  in  Twombley 
again,"  she  added,  as  they  sat  down  together  on 
the  haircloth  sofa.  "  The  depot  has  grown  small, 
and  so  have  the  rocks ;  but  the  maples  and  beeches, 
—  after  all,  one  must  come  to  Connecticut  for 
trees.  You  have  only  just  returned,  yourself." 

"  Yes.  It  does  seem  good  to  get  home  and  settle 
down  again,"  returned  Miss  Toothaker,  with  subtle 
intent ;  and  Conscience  recoiled,  for,  in  truth,  there 
was  an  emptiness  and  a  homelessness  about  Twom 
bley  for  Miss  Priscilla  of  late  years. 

"  I  suppose  it  does.  I  'm  afraid  you  are  n't  at 
all  pleased  with  our  proposition  for  the  summer." 

"  Well,  you  see  just  how  it  is.     I  work  pretty 


48  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

steady  all  winter,  and  summers  I  have  the  feeling 
belong  to  me." 

"  Of  course  you  do.  Mother  only  thought  that 
as  there  would  only  be  two  of  us  "  — 

"  What  two?  "  suspiciously. 

"  Why,  you  and  me." 

"  Oh ! " 

— "  and  since  Pulpit  Point  is  a  quiet,  pleasant 
resort,  that  you  might  not  object  to  going  there,  if 
you  had  no  other  plan.  She  had  to  think  quick, 
you  know,  for  she  decided  so  suddenly  to  let  me 
come  without  her."  Nathalie  bit  her  lip,  and  her 
listener  saw  her  eyes  fill.  "  You  don't  know  what 
it  has  been  to  me  to  come  back  to  Boston  alone. 
We  've  never  been  separated  before  since  papa 
died.  Twombley  reminds  me  so  of  papa.  O  Miss 
Toothaker,  forgive  me !  " 

And,  to  Priscilla's  vast  astonishment,  the  next 
moment  her  arms  were  embracing  her  guest's  fine, 
smooth  jacket,  and  the  jaunty  quills  of  the  hat 
she  had  been  admiring  were  crushed  against  her 
shoulder. 

Conscience  viewed  the  situation,  saw  its  chance 
for  an  hour  off,  turned  over,  and  went  to  sleep. 

"  Do  cry  if  you  want  to,  Nathalie.  Do,  child." 
Miss  Toothaker  winked  vigorously  herself  as  she 
patted  her.  "You  know  nobody  liked  your  pa 
any  better  'n  I  did." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  girl  sat  up,  wiped  her  eyes, 
and  straightened  her  hat. 


PULPIT  POINT.  49 

"  There  would  be  one  thing  about  Pulpit  Point 
you  might  not  like,"  she  said,  ignoring  the  little 
shower,  and  trying  to  smile.  "  Do  you  dislike 
hearing  people  practice  on  the  piano  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  as  I  do." 

"  Because  I  want  to  work  this  summer.  Work 
with  a  capital  W,  you  know.  It  will  be  good  for 
me  in  every  way ;  and  I  am  pleased  with  the 
thought  of  going  where  I  don't  know  any  one.  I 
can  accomplish  so  much  more.  If  it  does  n't  suit 
your  plans  to  go,  though  "  —  She  paused. 

"  Well,  what  would  you  do  then  ?  " 

"  I  should  stay  in  Boston,  try  to  find  an  unex- 
actirig  boarding-place,  keep  the  windows  open,  and 
practice." 

"  Oh,  I  guess  it  would  be  better  for  you  at  the 
seashore." 

"  Of  course  it  would."  Miss  Dexter  smiled 
questioningly  ;  and  as  it  had  been  settled  in  Pris- 
cilla's  mind  that  she  was  going  to  accede  to  her 
proposal,  from  the  moment  Nathalie  accomplished 
the  unconscious  coup  of  weeping  in  her  arms,  the 
matter  was  soon  settled  between  them. 

It  was  the  last  day  of  June  when  they  opened 
the  cottage. 

Pulpit  Point  is  a  bit  of  granite-bound  land  jut 
ting  into  the  water,  the  Pulpit  itself  being  a  huge 
rock  of  striking  form  situated  at  the  furthermost 
point,  rising  above  the  surrounding  ledges,  and 
looking  out  to  sea  as  if  to  suggest  a  congregation 
of  mermen,  maids,  and  fishes. 


50  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

The  cottage  placed  at  Nathalie's  disposal  was 
breezily  situated,  only  twenty  rods  from  the  Point, 
and  surrounded  down  to  the  rocks  themselves  by 
hummocks  of  green  grass ;  most  uneven  ground, 
which,  if  one  walked  over  it  by  night,  was  full  of 
pitfalls  into  which  a  foot,  dipping  unexpectedly, 
brought  the  jaws  of  the  pedestrian  together  with  a 
snap. 

"  Cap'n  Levi's  pastur',"  it  had  been  for  many  a 
year ;  but  cows  and  oxen  are  being  turned  out  of 
their  happy  hunting-grounds  along  the  Maine  coast 
with  almost  the  same  persistence  as  met  the 
Indians  before  them.  What  Cap  'n  Levi  called 
"  bobbed  wi-ar  fence "  curtailed  the  privileges  of 
the  livestock  at  Pulpit  Point,  and  although  Cap'n 
Levi  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  "the  man  who 
invented  bobbed  wi-ar  ought  to  had  a  roll  on't 
drawed  through  him,"  he  yielded  to  custom  and 
used  it,  now  that  specimens  of  tired  humanity  from 
the  cities  wanted  his  "  pastur'  lots  "  to  rest  in,  un- 
trampled  by  oxen. 

Indeed,  these  odd  human  beings  wanted  so  many 
things  that  Cap'n  Levi  did  not  find  it  convenient 
to  go  to  sea  any  more,  but  stayed  at  home  to  sup 
ply  them  from  a  little  general  store ;  and  they 
wanted  them  so  quickly  that  the  oxen  couldn't 
move  fast  enough,  so  Cap'n  Levi  had  to  buy  a 
horse,  of  which  he  stood  in  considerable  awe. 

Nathalie  and  Miss  Toothaker  had  not  been  long 
at  the  Point  before  discovering  that  Cap'n  Levi 


PULPIT  POINT.  51 

was  the  guide,  philosopher,  and  friend  to  whom 
they  must  turn  in  every  emergency. 

"  Though  molasses  in  winter  ain't  a  patch  on  him 
for  slowness,"  commented  Priscilla. 

"  We  must  just  remember  that  we  have  all  sum 
mer,"  said  Miss  Dexter,  when  the  captain  went  to 
Portland  for  the  second  time  and  forgot  a  neces 
sity  she  had  sent  for. 

"  Yes,  it  '11  be  a  real  comfort  to  go  back  in  the 
fall  and  know  we  put  those  ceilin'-hooks  up  in  the 
closet  before  we  left,"  returned  Miss  Toothaker; 
but  she  laughed.  Priscilla  had  laughed  more  in 
the  week  since  they  came  here  than  she  had  done 
before  in  six  months.  The  little  cottage  was 
pretty,  the  kitchen  convenient,  and  as  she  sat 
down  at  table  alone  with  Nathalie  in  a  room  where 
every  window  framed  a  marine  view,  and  con 
trasted  the  situation  with  the  fifteen  hungry  mouths 
she  had  had  to  feed  in  the  dark  dining-room  on 
Fifteenth  Street,  she  breathed  many  a  sigh  of  in 
ward  content. 

Nor  was  she  grudging  in  letting  Nathalie  under 
stand  her  satisfaction.  "  As  convenient  a  house 
as  I  'd  care  to  have,"  she  remarked ;  "  but  you  '11 
be  lucky  if  I  don't  forget  to  work,  lookin'  out  the 
windows." 

"  Oh,  I  fancy  the  pangs  of  hunger  will  assail  us 
at  about  the  same  time,"  replied  Miss  Dexter. 

Miss  Toothaker's  comments  on  the  furnishings 
of  the  cottage  afforded  the  girl  much  amusement. 


52  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Especially  did  Miss  Priscilla  take  umbrage  at  the 
Hawaiian  tapas  which  decorated  the  living-room. 
In  vain  Nathalie  explained  to  her  the  interesting 
handiwork  of  the  natives,  their  only  material  being 
pulp  made  from  wood,  and  the  coloring  matter 
from  roots  and  berries. 

"  I  could  get  calico  for  six  cents  that  would  be 
more  genteel,"  averred  Miss  Priscilla.  "  Those 
sprawlin'  patterns  that  look  as  if  they  was  painted 
in  red  clay  and  laid  on  with  a  stick !  The  idea ! 
But  then,  I  didn't  mean  to  hurt  your  feelin's. 
It 's  your  cousin  owns  the  cottage,  and  her  taste 
ain't  any  o'  my  business,  and  't  ain't  the  thing  to 
look  a  gift-horse  in  the  mouth,  either.  I  tell  you, 
Nathalie,  this  air  alone  is  meat  and  drink,  and  a 
very  little  clothing,  as  my  mother  used  to  say." 

"  It  is  fine ;  and  now,  Miss  Priscilla,  we  're  stran 
gers  here,  and  if  we  can  do  so  without  rudeness,  I 
want  to  remain  so.  Callers  are  such  thieves  of 
time  in  summer.  Let  us  look  the  other  way  all  we 
can." 

Miss  Toothaker  sniffed,  and  eyed  her  companion 
thoughtfully.  "  There  's  a  young  man  I  'm  most 
afraid  will  appear  to  me  before  the  summer 's 
over,"  she  said. 

"O  Miss  Priscilla!  If  you  are  going  to  have 
followers !  " 

"  He  's  a  feller  boards  with  me  in  Washington. 
Says  his  folks  come  here  summers.  He  's  a  well- 
meanin'  young  man,  I  think.  He  ain't  real  sensi- 


PULPIT  POINT.  53 

ble  in  his  talk  always,  but  I  'm  kind  o'  used  to 
him." 

"  Now,  Miss  Priscilla,  I  can  read  partiality  in 
your  eye." 

"  No,  I  don't  know  as  you  can." 

"  Snub  him,  snub  him  if  he  comes,"  said  Natha 
lie  firmly.  "  Tell  him  to  wait  till  you  get  back  to 
Washington." 

Miss  Toothaker  smiled.  "  It  makes  me  laugh, 
'cause  that 's  just  what  he  said.  He  said,  says 
he,  '  I  '11  come  and  see  you,  if  Nathalie  ain't  very 
disagreeable,'  says  he." 

Miss  Dexter's  bright  eyes  grew  brighter  in  her 
surprise.  "  How  charming  !  "  she  ejaculated. 

"  Oh,  he  }s  always  sayin'  those  gassy  things.  I  'd 
told  him  about  your  mother's  letter,  that 's  all. 
Mr.  Andreas  did  n't  know  a  thing  about  you,  of 
course." 

"Andreas!  "  with  a  quick  sigh.  "The  dearest 
man  in  the  world  is  named  Andreas." 

"Nathalie  Dexter!  Why,  I  never  thought  of 
such  a  thing  till  this  minute  !  Are  you  engaged? " 

The  girl  shook  her  head  mournfully.  "Alas! 
no.  He  is  a  priest." 

"  Russell  Andreas,  this  man  I  was  talking  about, 
has  got  a  brother,  a  priest." 

"  Why,  it  must  be  the  same  !  Is  n't  that  an  odd 
coincidence  ?  How  very  odd !  Well,  it  will  be 
hard,  then,  for  Nathalie  to  be  very  disagreeable  to 
him ;  but  I  shall  be  firm  !  " 


54  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

And  now  all  was  ready  for  the  most  important 
member  of  the  family,  namely,  the  piano. 

Nathalie  was  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  Cap'n 
Levi  several  times  on  this  subject,  and  one  morn 
ing  she  found  him  coming  around  the  side  of  his 
store. 

"  Jest  killed  a  skunk  out  he-ar  in  my  hen-house," 
he  announced  conversationally. 

"  Are  there  skunks  at  Pulpit  Point  ? "  with 
horror. 

"  Plenty  of  'em,  plenty  of  'em,"  was  the  cheerful 
response.  "  Guess  ef  the  wind  wa'n't  east,  you  'd 
find  out  right  now  there  was  one,  anyway,"  and 
Cap'n  Levi  exhibited  a  solitary  tooth  in  a  wide 
chuckle  at  the  girl's  look  of  consternation.  "  Wood- 
pussies,  the  cawtage  folks  calls  'em.  They  do  kind 
o'  favor  cats,  you  know.  Kin  I  do  anything  fer 
ye?" 

"Yes.  You  know  I  was  talking  to  you  about 
my  piano.  Well,  the  people  in  Portland  say  they 
will  deliver  it  for  me  at  this  dock,  but  that  I  shall 
have  to  get  it  up  to  the  house  myself ;  and  that 
means  that  you  will  have  to  bring  it." 

"Does,  hey?  Dunno  as  I  ever  hauled  a  plan 
ner." 

"  Oh,  Vixen  will  do  it  beautifully,"  said  Natha 
lie  persuasively. 

Cap'n  Levi  scratched  his  head.  "  When  's  she 
due?" 

"  It  will  come  down  to-morrow  by  the  afternoon 
boat." 


PULPIT  POINT.  55 

"  Wall,  I  hope  it  don't  rain  and  make  the  goin' 
bad,"  observed  the  captain.  "Vixen  ud  balk, 
like  's  not." 

He  evidently  felt  a  weight  of  responsibility  at 
the  prospect,  but  the  next  afternoon's  boat-time 
found  him  at  the  dock  with  his  wagon,  watching 
the  incoming  steamer  with  a  boding  countenance. 

So  great  was  his  absorption  in  looking  for  the 
piano  that  he  did  not  notice  a  familiar  figure  which 
left  the  boat  with  the  other  passengers,  and  after 
exchanging  salutations  with  several  lounging  Pulpit 
Pointers,  approached  the  open-mouthed  captain. 

"  Wake  up,  Cap'n  Levi.  Are  n't  you  going  to 
speak  to  me  ?  "  cried  the  newcomer. 

"  Hello,  that  you,  Russell  ?  "  absently  allowing 
his  hard  hand  to  be  gripped. 

"  What 's  the  matter,  cap'n  ?  You  look  as  if 
you  'd  lost  ten  dollars  and  found  a  quarter." 

"  Seen  anythin'  of  a  pianner  ?  Thar  —  thar  't  is 
now.  They  're  a-puttin'  her  off  !  " 

"  What 's  this  ?  You  been  investing  in  a  piano  ? 
Made  your  fortune  ?  " 

"  It 's  Miss  Dexter's  pianner,  an'  she  expects  me 
to  haul  it  fer  her." 

"  Oh,  there  is  too  much  style  coming  to  the 
Pulpit.  Dexter  is  a  new  name." 

All  the  same,  Andreas  was  wondering  why  it  had 
a  vaguely  familiar  sound. 

"  She 's  darned  set,  —  that 's  all  I  know,"  mut 
tered  the  harassed  captain.  "One  o'  the  sort '11 


56  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

never  let  ye  rest,  if  she  wants  anythin'.  She  looks 
jest  as  pleasant 's  a  curly,  bright-eyed  lamb  ;  but, 
b'  gosh,  if  she  ain't  worse  'n  Miss  Toothaker,  come 
right  down  to  it." 

Russell  Andreas  smiled  in  enlightenment. 

"  I  '11  help  you,  Cap'n  Levi,"  he  said  generously. 
"  Don't  be  excited." 

The  captain  accepted  this  offer  eagerly ;  but  he 
was  excited  and,  moreover,  he  retained  command 
of  the  expedition.  As  several  hands  hoisted  the 
upright  piano  upon  the  wagon,  Vixen  laid  her  ears 
back  inquiringly.  She  was  tied  and  double-tied, 
after  the  captain's  usual  cautious  fashion,  for  he 
lived  in  a  state  of  constant  apprehension  as  to  pos 
sible  outbreaks  of  his  steed. 

"  Stiddy,  stiddy !  "  he  cried,  as  the  piano  settled 
into  place.  "  Ketch  this  rope  and  make  her  fast 
across  thar,  so 's  the  thing  won't  slip  out  the  stern 
o'  the  wagon.  Now  we  're  ready,"  to  Russell. 
"  Cast  off,  will  ye  ?  " 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  returned  Andreas,  and  untied  the 
mare.  Then  he  jumped  up  beside  the  ex-mariner, 
and  Vixen  started. 

Nathalie  was  watching  the  approach  eagerly  from 
the  open  window,  whither  came  stentorian  "  Gees  " 
and  "  Haws "  as  Cap'n  Levi  guided  his  mare  up 
the  stony  road. 

"  Oh,  Miss  Toothaker,"  she  called  to  Priscilla, 
who  was  busy  in  the  kitchen,  "  they  've  sent  a  man 
from  Portland  with  the  piano,  after  all." 


PULPIT  POINT.  57 

"  That 's  clever,"  came  the  reply. 

"  It  is  a  relief  to  me.  I  was  so  afraid  these 
poor  fishermen  would  break  their  backs  trying  to 
handle  it." 

So  saying,  Miss  Dexter  came  out  upon  the  piazza 
and  waited,  until  with  many  a  jolt,  the  wagon  with 
its  precious  burden  drew  up  to  the  house,  and 
stopped. 

The  sunshine  picked  out  the  red  lights  in  her 
chestnut  hair,  and  the  satisfaction  of  the  moment 
made  her  bright  youth  radiant  to  look  upon  as  she 
stood  there.  She  beamed  upon  Andreas  with  an 
approving  smile. 

"  Good-afternoon.  I  'm  very  glad  you  could 
come,"  she  said.  "  They  are  not  accustomed  to 
moving  pianos  down  here." 

Andreas  smiled  appreciatively  after  his  first  sur 
prise,  and  accepted  the  role  thrust  upon  him. 

"  Think  we  can  h'ist  her  alone  ?  "  asked  the  cap 
tain  doubtfully. 

"  Easy  as  lying.  This  is  n't  like  the  dock,  you 
know." 

Nathalie  watched  eagerly  as,  with  many  a  grunt 
and  "  Stiddy,  thar,"  from  Cap'n  Levi,  the  piano 
was  moved  inside.  She  directed  where  it  should 
be  placed,  giving  Russell  many  a  quick  command 
in  the  transit,  and  smiled  with  satisfaction  when 
she  saw  the  coveted  instrument  safely  at  her  dis 
posal  at  last. 


58  MISS   ARCHES  ARCHER. 

"  Now,  it  was  n't  so  very  bad,  Cap'n  Levi,  was 
it  ?  "  she  asked  coaxingly. 

"  "Wall,  I  hope  ye  '11  get  an  orgin  next  time. 
Want  to  go  along  o'  me,  Russell  ?  "  turning  to  his 
able  assistant. 

"  No,  thanks." 

A  movement  of  Vixen's  head,  visible  through 
the  open  window,  attracted  the  notice  of  her  anx 
ious  owner.  "  Hi,  thar !  Hi,  thar  !  "  he  cried,  and, 
hastening  out,  mounted  into  his  wagon  and  drove 
away. 

Andreas  regarded  Nathalie  soberly.  "  What 
a  man  for  such  a  position  !  "  she  thought.  "  Did 
they  want  me  to  pay  you  to-day?  "  she  asked. 

"By  no  means,"  he  returned,  with  a  gesture 
which  was  the  most  polite  disclaimer ;  but  he  made 
no  movement  to  go. 

"  Then  —  I  should  like  to  ask  you  to  sit  down 
and  rest,"  said  Nathalie  civilly  ;  "  but  you  have  not 
much  more  than  time  to  catch  the  boat  on  its 
return  from  Mericoneag." 

"  Thank  you.  I  am  not  going  back  to  Portland 
to-day." 

Miss  Dexter  returned  his  gaze,  bewildered.  He 
smiled  into  her  eyes,  and  she  retreated  and  colored. 
There  was  some  awful  blunder  here.  He  was  too 
—  oh,  too  many  things  to  be  a  piano-mover.  Be 
side,  he  looked  so  much  like  somebody.  Who 
was  it?  She  groped  wildly  for  the  fleeting 
memory. 


PULPIT   POINT.  59 

"  I  have  —  made  a  mistake,"  she  stammered. 

"  You  have  given  me  a  pleasure,  Miss  Dexter." 

That  little  bow ;  the  tone ;  the  turn  of  the  head. 
Ah !  she  had  it  now.  "  Mr.  Eussell  Andreas  !  " 
she  ejaculated. 

"  There  is  evidently  no  resisting  fame,"  he  re 
marked,  surprised. 

"  You  see,  your  brother "  -  she  exclaimed 
eagerly. 

"  Indeed  ?  Why,  I  'm  so  glad  I  am  Lewis's 
brother.  I  find  it  such  a  recommendation." 

"  You  look  so  like  him." 

"  Miss  Dexter,"  plaintively.  "  That  grows  mo 
notonous.  Could  n't  you  find  it  in  your  heart  to 
detect  some  resemblance  in  Lewis  to  me?  " 

Miss  Toothaker  suddenly  appeared  in  the  door 
way,  rubbing  her  forehead  with  her  wrist.  "  Oh, 
'tis  you.  I  thought  't  was  your  voice." 

"  Miss  Pris !     The  only  woman  I  ever  loved !  " 

"  Look  out !  I  'm  all  flour.  I  can't  shake 
hands.  Glad  to  see  you,  though.  You  've  got 
acquainted  with  Miss  Dexter,  I  see." 

"  Mr.  Andreas  moved  my  piano  with  Cap'n  Levi. 
I  am  under  the  greatest  obligation  to  him."  Na 
thalie  spoke  with  fervor. 

After  Russell  had  taken  his  departure,  saying  he 
had  not  yet  reported  to  his  own  household,  she  sat 
down  with  hot  cheeks  and,  laughing  heartily,  told 
Priscilla  her  experience. 

"  I  shan't  stop  blushing  for  a  month !    I  ordered 


60  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

him  about  so.     You  should  have  heard  me!"  she 
finished. 

Miss  Toothaker's  low  laugh  rumbled  forth  as  an 
echo.  "  Well,  I  s'pose  he  's  come  to  the  seashore 
for  change,"  she  remarked. 


CHAPTER  V. 

AMATEUR    SURGERY. 

IT  was  a  glorious  morning.  The  clear  green 
waves  were  rollicking  about  the  Pulpit.  Out  on 
the  ledges  snowy  garlands  of  foam  sent  up  a  fine, 
smoke-like  spray,  and  the  gull's  wing  was  whiter 
as  it  rose  from  the  crested  wave. 

It  was  one  of  the  mornings  when  the  breathing 
apparatus  seems  too  limited.  One  opens  one's 
arms  to  the  sunlit  air,  and  lifts  a  thankful  face 
toward  the  downy  fluffs  of  cloud  along  the  blue. 

Miss  Priscilla  had  lagged  in  her  determination 
to  shake  rugs.  She  had  left  them  hanging  over 
the  piazza  rail,  and  gone  to  see  how  her  grass  was 
coming  on.  She  was  helping  Nature  to  clothe 
a  bare  patch  of  ground,  which  had  lacked  either 
time  or  courage  to  procure  a  new  garment  since 
those  ruthless  times  of  digging  when  the  cottage 
was  built. 

Smiling  at  the  tiny  clover  leaves  which  scrutiny 
revealed  in  the  brown  earth,  she  rose  at  last,  hum 
ming  a  tune,  and  went  back  to  her  rugs.  She  had 
shaken  one,  and  was  turning  to  get  another,  when 
the  figure  of  an  approaching  man  caught  her  atten 
tion.  He  was  a  stranger  to  her,  and  he  was  about 


62  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

to  pass  near  the  piazza.  Instantly  her  precious 
baby  clover  occurred  to  her.  She  waved  to  him 
warningly.  "  Keep  off  the  grass !  "  she  called  sud 
denly. 

The  startled  stranger  leaped  aside,  directly  upon 
the  long  brown  patch. 

Instantly  Miss  Toothaker's  voice  rang  out  in  a 
transport  of  feeling :  "  That  is  the  grass !  " 

The  stranger  leaped  back  again,  and  laughed. 
So  did  Miss  Priscilla.  It  was  such  a  jubilant 
morning,  and  the  treasured  spot  was  so  bare. 
"  Excuse  me ;  but  it 's  just  beginnin',''  she  ex 
plained,  "  and  I  do  want  to  get  it  covered." 

"Why  don't  you  put  a  little  fence  around  it?  " 
suggested  the  young  man,  lifting  his  cap,  as  he 
paused  to  contemplate  the  forbidden  ground.  "  It 
lies  too  temptingly  in  the  path  to  the  shore." 

"  That  would  be  a  good  idea,"  replied  Miss 
Toothaker. 

"  There  's  no  time  like  the  present.  If  you  have 
some  twine,  why  should  n't  we  do  it  now  ?  I  '11  be 
glad  to  atone  for  the  blow  my  heels  have  dealt 
your  hopes." 

Miss  Priscilla  looked  at  him  in  some  surprise  at 
the  offer  of  assistance.  He  was  well  built,  with 
broad  shoulders,  strong-looking  hands,  and  goodly 
length  of  limb ;  but  his  face  was  pale,  and  his 
mustache  not  so  heavy  as  to  conceal  that  his  lips, 
too,  told  mutely  the  need  of  precisely  this  invigo 
rating  air.  His  eyes  were  remarkable,  and  as  he 


AMATEUR   SURGERY.  63 

made  his  proposition,  they  held  Miss  Toothaker  in 
momentary  admiration  of  the  light  in  their  radi 
ant  brown  depths. 

"  I  'm  sure  you  're  very  good,"  she  said  rather 
awkwardly.  Then  she  added,  her  lips  twitching : 
"  You  've  got  a  good  deal  of  energy  for  a  South 
erner." 

The  young  man  lifted  his  eyebrows  in  quiet 
amusement.  "  How  do  you  know  I  'm  a  South 
erner  ?  " 

"I  haven't  lived  in  Washington  two  winters 
without  learnin'  to  know  a  Southerner  when  I 
hear  him." 

"  Oh,  when  you  hear  him,"  said  the  other,  smil 
ing.  "  Well,  may  I  help  you  ?  " 

The  manner  of  the  question  enchanted  Miss 
Priscilla.  There  was  no  impatience  in  it;  but  a 
quiet  courtesy,  and  just  a  suggestion  of  deference. 

"  Yes,  if  you  really  want  to ;  and  thank  you, 
too,"  she  answered  promptly,  and  disappeared. 

Miss  Dexter  was  busily  sending  scales  rippling 
out  the  window  to  the  waiting  stranger.  Miss 
Toothaker  stooped  in  passing,  and  spoke  :  — 

"  There  's  a  gentleman  come  to  Pulpit  Point." 

"Indeed?" 

"  Yes,  I  've  got  another  follower ; "  and  Miss 
Priscilla  hastened  on.  Returning  a  minute  later, 
she  spoke  again,  while  Nathalie's  deft  fingers 
raced  on. 

"  You  and  I  are  kind  o'  high-toned  in  the  help 


64  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

we  employ.  If  you  know  what 's  good  for  your 
self,  you  'd  better  peek  after  a  while.  He 's  got 
eyes  like  the  Hindoos  at  the  World's  Fair." 

These  mysterious  words  moved  Miss  Dexter, 
when  she  had  finished  her  scales,  and  before  she 
proceeded  to  the  next  step  in  her  morning's  work, 
to  go  cautiously  to  the  window  and  reconnoitre. 

What  she  beheld  was  her  housekeeper  and  a 
strange  man  erecting  a  protection  of  sticks  and 
twine  around  a  bare  spot  of  earth.  As  Nathalie 
was  not  unaware  of  Miss  Toothaker's  hopes  and 
her  clover  nursery,  she  saw  at  once  what  was  going 
on,  and  gazed  amusedly  for  a  time  at  the  pair, 
without  being  able  to  catch  more  than  a  glimpse 
of  the  man's  face  ;  then  she  returned  to  her  work, 
much  to  the  satisfaction  of  Miss  Toothaker's 
helper,  for  he  had  a  passion  for  music,  and  was 
sufficiently  intelligent  in  it  to  deduce  the  existence 
of  better  things  from  the  avalanche  of  thirds  and 
sixths,  whose  ceaseless  flow  from  the  windows  pro 
claimed  an  accomplished  pianist. 

"Now,  then,  I  can  have  some  hope,"  said  Miss 
Priscilla,  looking  fondly  at  her  incipient  grass, 
when  their  task  was  done.  "  And  you,  sir,  you 
can  remember  this  evenin'  that  verse :  — 

'  Count  that  day  lost  whose  low,  descendin'  sun 
Views  from  thy  baud  no  worthy  action  done.' 

Seein'  the  way  I  hollered  at  you,  I  consider  your 
action  uncommonly  worthy." 


AMATEUR   SURGERY.  65 

The  young  man,  his  cap  set  back  on  the  thick 
hair  that  waved  loosely  above  his  forehead,  regarded 
his  completed  handiwork,  and  then  looked  off  to 
ward  the  dancing  waves,  tumultuous  this  morning, 
apparently,  from  mere  excess  of  frolicsome  joy. 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  just  to  live  on  a  day  like  this, 
is  n't  it  ?  "  he  said  in  his  deliberate,  reposeful  man 
ner.  "  I  must  continue  my  explorations,  and," 
lifting  his  cap,  "  I  hope  I  shall  not  do  any  more 
damage." 

Miss  Toothaker  looked  after  him  as  he  walked 
on,  fascinated.  "Yes,  a  gentleman  has  come  to 
Pulpit  Point,"  she  mused.  "  I  hope  Mr.  Andreas 
will  get  back  in  time  to  entertain  him." 

For  Russell's  stay  had  been  short  on  his  first 
trip  to  Maine,  though  upon  his  departure  he  had 
cheered  Miss  Priscilla  by  the  assurance  of  his 
speedy  return. 

The  stranger  moved  011  down  to  the  shore,  and 
ascending  into  the  Pulpit,  vaulted  up  on  one  of  its 
massive  sides,  and  sat  there  viewing  the  kaleido 
scopic  changes  before  him,  until  the  incoming  tide 
had  sprayed  him  well.  Then  turning  his  steps 
inland  again,  he  began  to  hear  faintly  the  tones 
of  Nathalie's  piano.  His  rather  mournful  eyes 
brightened  at  the  sound,  and  he  moved  faster, 
leaping  from  cradle-knoll  to  cradle-knoll,  until  he 
had  drawn  near  the  cottage.  A  large  solitary 
boulder  invited  him  to  eavesdrop. 

Throwing  himself  down  on  the  further  side  of 


66  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

the  rock,  he  gave  himself  up  to  enjoyment.  He 
did  not  know  the  Praeludium  that  Nathalie  was 
playing ;  indeed,  he  knew  very  little  music  by 
name  save  the  music  of  his  band.  Neither  would 
he  have  excused  this  fact  by  the  betise  of  declaring 
that  he  "  knew  what  he  liked,"  —  astonishing  plati 
tude,  which  falls  complacently  from  the  lips  of 
many  a  person  who  might  be  expected  to  pause 
and  consider  that  instead  of  being  peculiar,  this 
fact  is  really  one  of  those  things  which  goes  with 
out  saying. 

What  he  did  comprehend  was  that  a  plaintive 
melody  with  strange  and  alluring  intervals  and 
rhythm  was  coming  to  him  from  an  invisible 
source,  enriched  by  a  rippling  accompaniment,  and 
that  the  same  flowed  on  under  an  assured  touch, 
now  strong  and  fiery,  now  modulated  to  a  delicate 
whisper,  and  that  it  gained  a  wonderful  enchant 
ment  from  the  limitless  view  of  sea  and  rock  and 
scudding  cloud  all  about  him. 

Day-dreams,  sweet,  vague,  visited  him,  lying 
there  in  the  soft  grass,  his  senses  enthralled.  He 
lost  all  count  of  the  passage  of  time  while  the 
music  went  on,  varying  movements  succeeding  one 
another  in  delicious  succession  as  the  player,  un 
conscious  of  a  listener,  exhausted  her  repertoire. 

At  last,  after  a  triumphal  climax  of  chords,  the 
tones  ceased. 

"  Miss  Priscilla,"  called  a  voice  distinctly. 
"  Is  n't  dinner  almost  ready  ?  I  'm  starved." 


AMATEUR   SURGERY.  67 

The  lotos-eater  under  the  lichens  started  guiltily, 
and  seized  his  watch.  "  Mine  hostess !  mine  host 
ess  !  What  shall  I  say?"  he  ejaculated,  horrified. 

Miss  Toothaker  saw  a  form  skim  by  her  kitchen 
window. 

"  I  do  believe  there  goes  my  gentleman  on  the 
dead  run.  He  'd  better  look  out.  He 's  been  sick, 
or  I  miss  my  guess." 

She  was  watering  the  precious  clover  when  he 
went  by  the  next  day,  and  she  returned  his  salu 
tation  with  a  friendly  nod. 

"  You  don't  want  to  be  too  smart,"  she  said. 
"  I  saw  you  runnin'  yesterday.  You  must  remem 
ber  you  've  been  sick." 

"  I  'm  bound  to  remember  that,  for  if  I  had  n't 
been  ill  I  should  n't  be  here,"  he  returned.  "  I 
can't  regret  it,  you  see." 

"  Yes ;  I  don't  know  as  ever  I  was  in  a  more 
sightly  place.  Well,  get  strong  as  fast  as  you  can. 
We've  got  all  the  air  there  is  up  here." 

"  Looks  paler  'n  ever,"  she  muttered  when  he 
had  passed  on.  "  Sober-lookin'  feller,  too.  I  'd 
go  out  o'  my  way,  though,  to  see  him  smile,  any 
day.  Wonder  if  he  ain't  lonely.  Wonder  if 
he  's  boardiri'  at  that  little  one-horse  hotel.  I  'd 
like  to  cook  him  a  meal  o'  victuals  myself.  Ain't 
he  as  straight  as  a  die  !  " 

All  of  which  goes  to  prove  what  good  capital  it 
is  for  a  young  man  to  possess  a  pair  of  long,  Ori 
ental-looking  eyes,  and  a  serious,  interesting  cast 
of  countenance. 


68  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Miss  Toothaker  did  not  forget  him  when  she 
went  into  the  house.  On  the  contrary,  she  ad 
dressed  Nathalie,  busy  at  the  piano,  with  a  lack  of 
candor  so  new  as  to  sit  awkwardly  upon  her. 

"  Now,  I  'm  goin'  to  make  a  fuss  about  this,  Na 
thalie.  You  sat  here  the  whole  livin'  mornm' 
yesterday,  and  to-day 's  so  perfect,  it 's  a  regular 
weather-breeder.  There  '11  be  plenty  o'  storms 
when  you  can  sit  and  thump  those  keys.  Do  you 
get  up  now  and  go  down  to  the  rocks  —  for  half 
an  hour,  anyhow.  I  know  your  mother  'd  say  so." 

"  Yes,  I  do  know  she  'd  say  so,"  muttered  Miss 
Priscilla,  when  Nathalie  had  protested,  then 
laughed,  then  obeyed.  "  How  do  I  know  she  '11 
meet  him  ?  And  what  if  she  does  ?  I  don't  s'pose 
he  'd  speak  to  her,  lonely  as  he  is ;  but  he  '11  see 
there  is  somebody  here  beside  a  hatchet-faced  old 
woman,  and  then  maybe  it  '11  come  around."  And 
Miss  Priscilla  smiled  dreamily  out  of  one  side  of 
her  mouth  as  her  imagination  leaped  forward 
and  began  to  draw  the  menu  which  she  would 
serve  to  the  straight,  pale  young  man  who  had 
built  her  fence,  when  the  conventions  permitted  of 
his  being  invited  to  dinner. 

Nathalie,  hatless,  happy,  went  singing  down  to 
the  rocks.  Miss  Toothaker  was  right.  Pianos  we 
can  always  have,  but  only  one  month  in  the  year  is 
it  July  on  the  Maine  coast. 

Lightly  she  ran  up  into  the  Pulpit,  and  stand 
ing  on  tiptoe  to  lean  her  elbows  on  its  edge,  looked 


AMATEUR   SURGERY.  69 

down  into  a  clear  pool,  left  below  by  the  tide. 
Starfish,  anemones,  hermit  crabs,  urchins,  swam, 
palpitated,  crept,  before  her.  Millions  of  barna 
cles  crusted  the  rocks. 

The  breakers  rushed  past  the  Point  in  orderly, 
stately  procession,  and  the  neighboring  island  lifted 
its  clump  of  evergreens  like  a  crown. 

"  Why  thus  longing,  thus  forever  sighing 
For  the  far-off,  unattained,  and  dim 

(that 's  Paderewski), 

While  the  beautiful,  all  'round  thee  lying, 
Offers  up  its  low,  perpetual  hymn  ?  " 

she  quoted  aloud,  in  her  splendid  solitude. 

Her  voice  brought  from  behind  a  neighboring 
ledge  the  man  Miss  Priscilla  had  shamelessly  sent 
her  down  to  see. 

For  an  instant  their  eyes  met.  Nathalie,  her 
uncovered  curly  head  glorified  in  sunshine,  address 
ing  the  universe  from  the  Pulpit,  was  a  preoccu 
pying  sight.  Miss  Toothaker's  protege  had  not 
taken  the  precaution  to  wear  rubber-soled  shoes ; 
and  that  was  the  way  it  happened. 

In  endeavoring  not  to  stare  at  Miss  Dexter,  and, 
moreover,  trying  to  get  out  of  her  way,  he  leaped 
to  a  rock  which  chanced  to  be  covered  with  treach 
erous,  slimy  weed,  and  fell  in  a  way  to  strike  his 
knee  against  the  massive  ledge  he  had  just  quitted. 

He  uttered  a  suppressed  exclamation,  and  then 
lay  still.  Nathalie  came  flying  down  to  him. 

"Are  you  hurt?" 


70  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Pardon  me  ;  but  —  I  believe  —  my  knee-cap 's 
off.  Yes,  it  is." 

"Don't  touch  it  again.  Don't  move  it,"  she 
said  imperatively.  "  I  think  I  can  —  I  '11  try. 
Put  your  arms  around  these  rocks  and  hold  your 
self  firmly.  Can  you  hold?"  Unhesitatingly 
she  stepped  to  his  feet,  and  seizing  the  heel  belong 
ing  to  the  injured  leg,  she  pulled  with  all  the 
strength  of  her  young,  piano-trained  arms ;  then, 
when  the  strain  was  at  the  utmost,  she  gave  a 
quick,  sharp  jerk. 

Her  victim  bit  his  white  lips.  Her  heart  beat 
suffocatingly.  She  felt  of  his  knee.  "  It  seems  to 
have  gone  back.  Oh,  are  you  going  to  faint  ?  " 

"Faint!     No." 

"  The  tide  is  just  turning,  but  it  won't  reach 
you.  I  '11  send  some  men  down  at  once,  and  get 
the  doctor.  What  cottage  ?  " 

"  Andreas." 

She  fled  up  the  hill  and  by  the  house.  Miss 
Toothaker  saw  her  pass.  "  Seems  to  be  somethin' 
in  this  air  that  makes  folks  terribly  frisky,"  she 
remarked.  "  Wonder  where  Nathalie 's  bound, 
goin'  like  the  wind.  Wonder,"  Miss  Priscilla's 
shoulders  twitched  up,  and  she  murmured  it  half 
guiltily,  —  "  wonder  if  she  saw  him." 

Cap'n  Levi,  his  chair  tilted  back  against  the 
sunny  side  of  his  store,  was  entertaining  some 
other  leisurely  Pulpit  Pointers  with  an  account  of 
the  manner  in  which  the  day  before  he  had  disci- 


AMATEUR    SURGERY.     '  71 

plined  the  small  son  of  one  of  the  cottagers  who  was 
making  himself  dangerously  at  home  in  one  of  the 
fishing-boats  moored  near  by. 

"  I  was  out  in  my  dory,  and  I  see  him  monkeyin' 
aronnd  thar,  tryin'  to  drown  himself,  and  I  says 
to  him,  says  I:  'Come  out  o'  that  bo't,'  says  I. 
'Whose  bo't  is  this?'  says  he;  jest  like  that.  I 
saw  it  wa'n't  no  time  for  cawnversation,  so  I  took 
him  by  the  collar,  and  the  breast  of  his  breeches, 
and  hove  him  ashore.  Who 's  this  runnin'  ? 
Why,  it 's  Miss  Dexter." 

For  Nathalie's  flying  feet  had  brought  her  upon 
the  nonchalant  conclave,  —  a  sudden,  breathless 
apparition.  . 

"  Where  does  the  doctor  live  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"Who's  sick?"  drawled  Cap'n  Levi ;  but  one 
of  the  younger  men  pointed  out  the  way. 

"  Two  of  you  go  right  down  to  the  rocks  by 
the  Pulpit,"  she  went  on,  catching  her  breath. 
"  There 's  a  man  there  hurt  so  he  can't  walk.  Take 
him  to  the  Andreas  cottage.  You  '11  let  me  take 
Vixen,  Cap'n  Levi?  Unfasten  her,  please."  She 
turned  to  the  fellow  who  had  given  her  informa 
tion,  and  he  started  to  the  spot  where,  as  usual, 
the  horse-of-all-work  stood  ready  harnessed. 

"  You  can't  never  drive  her  in  this  world !  " 
said  Cap'n  Levi,  startled  at  last  out  of  his  apathy, 
and  hurrying  forward  as  he  protested. 

"  I  think  I  can  do  it  quicker  than  you,"  replied 
the  girl. 


72  WISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  She  '11  run  away  and  kill  ye,  like 's  not," 
shouted  Cap'n  Levi  after  her,  as  the  inare  started 
at  a  good  pace,  "  and  you  '11  pay  fer  her,  let  me 
tell  ye.  B'  gosh  !  if  she  ain't  the  settest  piece  that 
ever  come  to  the  Pulpit,"  he  added  in  an  aggrieved 
tone,  watching  his  wagon  go  jouncing  over  obsta 
cles,  as  Vixen  rattled  along  under  the  excited 
urging  of  her  new  driver. 

"  We  'd  better  hustle  after  the  feller,"  remarked 
one  of  the  bystanders,  grinning.  "  She  looks  as  if 
she  'd  make  the  fur  fly,  if  folks  kep'  her  waitin'." 

Had  Cap'n  Levi  been  her  messenger,  Nathalie 
would  assuredly  have  blamed  him  for  the  doctor's 
tardy  arrival ;  for,  with  her  best  efforts,  it  was 
nearly  two  hours  after  the  accident  that  he  was 
brought  to  the  door  of  the  Andreas  cottage,  and 
Miss  Dexter,  dropping  him,  drove  slowly  back  to 
Cap'n  Levi's  store. 

To  her  relief  the  place  was  deserted,  as  was  often 
the  case.  She  tied  the  horse,  then  patted  her,  and 
laid  her  cheek  against  the  smooth  neck. 

Meanwhile  the  country  doctor  was  congratulat 
ing  his  patient  while  he  examined  him.  "  Mighty 
good  thing  for  you,  young  man,  that  you  were  n't 
alone  when  this  happened  to  you.  That  knee-cap 's 
been  off,  and  now  it 's  on  again.  Miss  Dexter 
was  n't  sure  whether  she  'd  done  right  or  wrong ; 
but  I  can  tell  you  now  that  if  that  cap  had  been 
off  all  the  time  that  plucky  girl  has  been  chasing 
'round  after  me,  you  'd  have  been  lame  for  life" 


AMATEUR   SURGERY.  73 

The  patient  shook  his  head.  "  A  bad  thing  in 
my  profession." 

"A  bad  thing  in  any  profession,  I  take  it. 
Says  her  father  was  a  physician,  and  he  told  her 
how,"  said  the  doctor,  whose  thoughts  had  harked 
back  to  Nathalie.  She  had  made  a  deep  impres 
sion  on  him,  with  her  uncovered  head,  her  bright 
eyes,  and  her  reckless  driving  in  the  old  wagon. 
"  Well,  we  '11  fix  you  up  in  a  little  plaster,  and 
you  '11  go  around  here  a  few  weeks  on  crutches,  and 
after  that  you  '11  be  as  good  as  new,  Mr." 

"  Gerard."  An  added  mutter  of  impatience  set 
the  doctor  off  again. 

"  Yes,  't- ain't  pleasant ;  but  think  what  it  might 
have  been.  You  '11  let  Miss  Dexter  know  that 
you  're  all  right  as  soon  as  convenient,  I  hope. 
She 's  all  worked  up  about  it,  you  understand," 
were  the  last  words  the  doctor  said  in  leaving. 

His  motive  was  most  benevolent.  He  had  no 
doubt  that  there  was  a  romance  here,  and  the  agi 
tation  which  the  girl  had  betrayed  concerning  her 
own  part  in  the  affair  had  been  so  highly  becom 
ing  that  he  pitied  his  patient  for  not  having  seen 
her  while  she  related  the  experience. 

His  astonishment  would  have  been  great  could 
he  have  known  that  the  two  young  people  were 
strangers,  and  that  he  had  informed  Gerard  of  the 
name  of  his  friend  in  need. 

"  Dexter."  Roger  fitted  the  name  to  the  figure 
he  had  seen  as  a  sudden  bright  vision  in  the  gray 


74  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Pulpit.  All  her  subsequent,  quick-witted  action 
seemed  like  things  seen  and  felt  and  heard  in  a 
painful  dream. 

A  keen  appreciation  of  the  absurdity  of  his  own 
position  afflicted  him.  "  I  hope  her  sense  of 
humor  is  latent,"  he  thought.  "  Rusty  will  never 
let  me  hear  the  last  of  this.  I  '11  never  chafe  at 
conventions  again.  The  young  lady  ought  by 
every  precedent  to  have  sprained  her  ankle  and  let 
me  carry  her  lightly  and  gracefully  to  the  house. 
I  wonder  if  I  could  have  done  it  ?  " 

He  was  in  bed,  and  he  bared  his  arm  and 
examined  his  muscles.  "Hang  typhoid  fever,"  he 
observed.  "  And  now  comes  this  handicap  —  I 
mean  knee-cap.  What  next  ?  " 

As  for  Nathalie,  she  went  laggingly  home  from 
the  store. 

"  Well,  I  thought  you  was  lost,"  observed  Miss 
Toothaker  when  she  came  in.  "  Why,  you  are 
pale  as  a  ghost!  What  in  the  world  possessed 
you  to  run  so  hard  ?  What  —  why  " 

For  Nathalie  had  sat  down  in  the  nearest  chair, 
and  now,  bowing  her  face  in  her  hands,  began  to 
sob. 

"  Nathalie  Dexter,  what  has  happened  ? "  im 
plored  Miss  Priscilla,  stooping  beside  her. 

"I'm  —  I'm — enjoying  it,"  declared  the  girl 
thickly. 

Miss  Toothaker's  conscience  alertly  suggested 
that  in  some  mysterious  way  she  was  probably  to 


AMATEUR   SURGERY.  75 

blame  for  this ;  and  indeed,  when  her  companion 
had  become  calm  and  told  her  story,  Priscilla  had 
a  heightened  color. 

"  You  see,  it  was  my  shouting  out  so  suddenly, 
thinking  I  was  all  alone,  that  made  him  turn 
quickly  and  slip  on  that  weed,"  explained  Nathalie 
forlornly. 

"  H'm,"  returned  Miss  Priscilla.  "  I  won't  say 
anything  against  your  practicin'  mornin's,  after 
this.  I  find  usually  it 's  first  rate  policy  to  keep 
in  mind  that  firm  that  made  so  much  money 
mindin'  its  own  business ! " 


CHAPTER  VI. 

AN   IMPROMPTU   PICNIC. 

MY  DEAR  Miss  DEXTER,  —  The  doctor  told  me 
yesterday  that  but  for  your  prompt  action,  the 
injury  to  my  knee  would  have  resulted  in  chronic 
lameness.  The  surgeon  who  came  from  Portland 
to  see  me  this  morning  confirms  his  words.  Your 
presence  of  mind,  your  kindness  in  going  in  person 
to  bring  the  doctor  for  an  utter  stranger,  —  these 
are  favors  for  which  thanks  seem  tame ;  but  I  ask 
you  to  believe,  Miss  Dexter,  that  your  noble  action 
will  be  held  forever  in  grateful  memory. 
Sincerely  yours, 

ROGER  GERARD. 

This  was  the  note  Nathalie  received  on  the  fol 
lowing  morning.  She  read  it  to  Miss  Toothaker, 
who  listened  approvingly,  her  chin  resting  on  her 
hand. 

"  He 's  got  a  sense  of  what 's  becomin',  I  tell 
you,"  she  commented  triumphantly.  "  Did  n't  I 
say  he  was  a  gentleman  ?  " 

Nathalie  looked  beyond  her.  "  He  hates  me  for 
it,"  she  said  with  conviction. 

"  You  must  be  crazy,"  returned  Miss  Priscilla 
with  vast  contempt. 


AN  IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  77 

"  Yes,  he  does.  He  hates  to  feel  that  he,  a  man, 
was  put  in  a  humiliating  position.  Mr.  Andreas 
will  tell  his  friends." 

Miss  Dexter  had  seen  considerable  of  Russell 
before  he  took  his  forced  departure  from  the  Pul 
pit,  and  she  thought  she  knew  him. 

"Hate  you!  The  idea!  That  letter  don't 
sound  much  like  it.  " 

Neither  did  the  box  of  roses  which  reached 
Nathalie  the  next  day  seem  to  evidence  an  unchar 
itable  heart.  She  lifted  the  card  which  lay  on  top 
of  the  tissue  paper. 

"Lieutenant  Roger  Gerard,  Artillery, 

U.  S.  A.,"-  she  read  aloud.  "  Miss  Toothaker," 
excitedly,  "he  is  an  officer !  " 

"  And  a  gentleman,"  added  Priscilla,  with  sono 
rous  devoutness.  "  Oh,  he  hates  you,  he  hates  you 
bad,"  she  added,  lifting  out  the  glowing  roses, 
which  Nathalie  had  forgotten  for  the  fascinating 
bit  of  pasteboard. 

"  This  is  nothing.  I  dare  say  he  will  keep  on 
sending  me  flowers.  If  a  box  should  come  every 
day,  it  wouldn't  surprise  me  in  the  least.  He 
loathes  his  obligation.  He  writhes  under  it.  He 
will  try  to  work  it  off.  You  watch,"  announced 
Nathalie  oracularly. 

"  The  cat's  foot  in  the  bandbox  !  "  returned  Miss 
Priscilla  contemptuously. 

It  was  a  few  days  afterward  that  she  was  going 
out  the  front  door  with  a  rug,  when  she  was  sur- 


78  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

prised  by  an  apparition  at  the  far  end  of  the 
piazza.  It  was  Mr.  Gerard  seated  there  in  a  chair, 
his  crutches  leaning  against  the  rail  near  him. 

She  exclaimed,  and  he  laid  a  finger  on  his  lips, 
and  then  pointed  toward  the  invisible  piano  where 
Nathalie  was  playing  a  Bach  fugue. 

Miss  Toothaker  understood.  He  enjoyed  the 
music,  and  he  did  not  wish  to  have  the  player  dis 
turbed.  So  she  stood  silently  beaming  a  welcome 
upon  him  for  a  moment,  and  inwardly  bemoaning 
the  pallor  of  his  countenance  ;  then,  after  shaking 
her  rug,  she  turned  back  into  the  house  and  went 
about  her  business  in  the  kitchen. 

Nathalie  played  on  for  nearly  an  hour  ;  then 
Miss  Toothaker  could  stand  it  no  longer.  As  the 
pianist  came  to  the  end  of  a  piece,  she  put  her 
head  in  at  the  living-room  door. 

"  Do  go  out  on  the  piazza  for  a  breath,"  she 
said.  "  The  air  ?s  like  wine." 

Nathalie,  humming  what  she  had  last  played, 
obeyed  mechanically.  Outside  the  door  she  was 
met  by  the  unexpected  sight  of  Roger.  He  arose. 

"Don't  —  don't  rise,  Mr.  Gerard,"  she  begged, 
hurrying  toward  him. 

"  Thank  you,  but  I  am  becoming  quite  proficient 
in  standing  on  one  leg  like  a  stork." 

They  shook  hands. 

"  Why  did  n't  you  let  me  know  you  were  here  ?  " 

"  I  was  so  well  entertained.  I  only  prayed  you 
would  not  stop." 


AN  IMPROMPTU  PICNTC.  79 

"  Oh,  do  you  care  for  it  ?     I  am  so  glad,  for  then 
perhaps  I  can  make  up  —  I  mean  I  can  —  yes  " 
she  caught  her  breath,  "  I  believe  I  can't —    Isn't 
it  a  beautiful  morning  ?  " 

The  vivacious  face  had  grown  so  flushed  that 
Roger  was  mystified  by  her  embarrassment. 

"  Never  mind  the  chair.  Let  me  wait  on  my 
self,"  she  went  on,  and  then  blushed  deeper.  "  I 
know  it  must  be  so  annoying  for  you  not  to  be 
able  to  do  everything,  —  so  trying  for  a  man  to  be 
laid  up  this  way.  I  know  how  they  dislike  to 
be  waited  on.  I  —  I "  —  she  stammered,  and  then, 
as  Roger  said  to  himself,  she  ran  down. 

Her  whole  manner  was  so  hesitating,  so  doubtful, 
so  different  from  the  prompt  decision  she  had 
shown  in  their  former  memorable  meeting,  he  was 
puzzled  by  it  -for  a  second,  and  then  the  explana 
tion  came  over  him  in  a  flash. 

"  She  is  sorry  for  me  because  I  was  ridiculous,  — 
nearly  fainted,  and  all  the  rest  of  it.  Of  course. 
She  plays  that  way.  It  was  mighty  hard  on  her, 
the  whole  thing."  After  which  mental  aside  he 
proceeded  to  reply. 

"  Yes,  this  accident  was  rather  unfortunate  for 
a  convalescent.  I  was  ill  all  the  spring,  —  the 
first  time  in  my  life,  too.  If  the  fortunes  of  peace 
are  going  to  treat  me  so  badly,  I  shall  have  to  pray 
to  try  the  fortunes  of  war.  Mrs.  Andreas  sent 
kind  messages  to  you.  She  says  her  son  explained 
her  invalidism  to  you,  and  that  she  does  not  visit 
at  all." 


80  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

It  was  a  fortnight  after  this  meeting  that  Mr. 
Russell  Andreas  arrived  again  at  his  summer 
home.  His  friend  had  deemed  it  best  to  write 
him  an  outlined  account  of  the  misfortune  which 
had  befallen  him,  thinking  that  if  by  the  time 
Russell  reached  home  it  had  become  an  old  story, 
he  might  escape  some  chaffing. 

Gerard  went  to  meet  him  on  his  crutches  the 
morning  of  his  arrival,  and  the  two  friends  ex 
changed  the  heartiest  of  greetings  after  their  years 
of  separation,  inspecting  one  another  with  affection 
ate  scrutiny. 

"  It 's  a  confounded  shame."  declared  Andreas. 
"  Here  you  were  seedy  from  the  fever,  anyway. 
It  seems  like  kicking  a  fellow  when  he  's  down, 
does  n't  it  ?  You  've  a  fine  red  nose  on  you, 
though.  How  soon  are  you  going  to  throw  away 
these  wooden  legs  ?  " 

"  In  a  week  more,  I  think." 

"  Say,"  Andreas  chuckled,  "  is  n't  the  military 
intellect  up  to  a  more  romantic  way  of  scraping 
acquaintance  with  a  pretty  girl  than  that?  I'm 
surprised  at  you  !  " 

Gerard  smiled  philosophically. 

"  Miss  Dexter,  too,"  went  on  Andreas.  "  Nice, 
well-bred  girl  she  seemed  to  be,  what  I  saw  of  her. 
I  had  n't  an  idea  she  'd  pull  your  leg  "  — 

"  See  here,  Rusty.     Leave  her  out  of  it." 

"  Why,  where  would  the  story  be  then  ?  "  laughed 
Andreas. 


AN   IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  81 

"  Forgotten,  I  hope.  At  any  rate,  I  want  to 
know  if  you  are  intending  to  speak  to  Miss  Dexter 
about  it  ?  " 

Andreas  well  remembered  this  extra  soft  and 
slow  speech  of  his  college  chum,  and  what  it 
meant. 

"  I  refuse  to  fight  a  crippled  man,"  he  declared, 
highly  entertained. 

"  You  have  some  imagination,  Andreas." 

"  Thanks,  old  man." 

"  Please  apply  it  right  here,  in  regard  to  Miss 
Dexter's  standpoint  in  this  matter.  I  won't  have 
her  chaffed.'' 

"  Sure  you  won't  ?  " 

"  Sure  I  won't  stay  to  see  it,  anyway.  Listen, 
Rusty :  it  was  awfully  white  in  you  to  insist  on 
my  coming  up  here,  when  we  hadn't  met  in  so 
long.  I  did  n't  know  how  much  I  needed  it  till  I 
breathed  this  air ;  but  we  '11  call  it  off  right  now 
unless  you  give  me  your  promise  not  to  refer  to 
the  part  Miss  Dexter  played  in  my  accident,  —  at 
any  rate,  not  to  mention  it  to  her  in  any  manner 
whatever.  If  you  can't  see  why,  that 's  no  matter. 
If  you  should  speak  to  her  of  it,  I  should  have  to 
punch  your  head,  and  as  I  could  n't  very  well 
punch  my  host's  head,  I  would  take  the  boat  in 
stead.  I  'm  not  fooling." 

"  Oh,  I  know  you  're  not  fooling  when  you  leave 
out  all  your  r's,  my  flower  of  Southern  chivalry," 
returned  Andreas,  flinging  an  arm  around  his 


82  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

friend's  shoulders.  "  All  right ;  mum  's  the  word, 
—  until  you  are  able  to  punch  my  head,  anyway. 
First  catch  your  hare,  you  know ;  and  for  the  pres 
ent  the  hare  is  a  little  swifter  than  the  tortoise." 

"  No,"  returned  the  lieutenant  stiffly.  "  Your 
promise  for  all  time,  or  I  leave  on  the  morning 
boat." 

"  Take  your  playthings  and  all  ? "  Russell 
patted  the  crutches.  His  friend  stopped,  and 
faced  him  with  a  steady  look  of  the  heart-stirring 
brown  eyes.  "  Oh,  Roger,  you  old  idiot !  "  he  went 
on,  "  of  course  I  '11  promise.  What 's  the  matter 
with  you?  Swing  along  lively  now.  There  's  my 
mother  at  the  window." 

So  it  happened  that  Nathalie  gave  Mr.  Andreas 
great  credit  for  delicacy  at  their  first  subsequent 
meeting.  Beyond  certain  twitchings  of  his  deep- 
cornered  mouth  when  he  referred  to  his  friend's 
mishap,  he  did  not  err  even  against  the  spirit  of 
his  promise. 

One  morning  some  time  afterward,  Russell  came 
to  the  open  door  of  the  Dexter  cottage.  No  one 
was  in  the  living-room. 

"  Oh,  Miss  Pris,"  he  called,  his  voice  penetrating 
to  the  furthermost  niche  of  the  little  house. 

"  Hello,  Mr.  Andreas.     Kitchen." 

Following  the  sententious  suggestion  of  the  muf 
fled  tones,  he  presented  himself  at  the  door  of  the 
culinary  department,  to  find  Miss  Toothaker  deep 
in  the  mysteries  of  making  cake. 


AN  IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  83 

"  I  have  called  "  - 

"  I  heard  you." 

"Miss  Pris,"  with  grave  reproach,  "are  you 
being  funny  ?  " 

"  Funny !  Well,  I  guess  if  you  make  me  lose 
count  o'  these  cups  o'  flour,  you  '11  think  I  ain't 
very  funny.  Was  that  two  or  three,  —  did  you 
notice?" 

"  That  was  two,  — yes,  I  'in  positive  ;  "  and  Mr. 
Andreas  picked  up  a  particularly  plump  raisin. 

"  Here !  don't  you  eat  one  o'  the  stoned  ones,  or 
I  '11  set  you  down  here  and  make  you  do  another 
cupful." 

"  Plum  cake  is  good  for  picnics,"  observed  the 
visitor  musingly. 

"  Yes,  that  must  have  been  three  cups  o'  flour," 
said  Miss  Toothaker.  "  I  can  tell  by  the  looks. 
Now  what  do  you  want  ?  Speak  quick,  for  I  don't 
like  to  talk  when  I  'm  beatin'  eggs." 

"  Give  me  those  eggs,  woman.  If  I  could  n't 
beat  eggs  with  one  hand  and  talk  with  the  other, 
I  'd  go  out  of  the  insurance  business." 

Miss  Toothaker  tied  an  apron  around  his  neck 
on  the  instant. 

"  Go  right  at  it,"  she  retorted ;  and  the  famous 
maker  of  salad  dressing  accepted  the  plate  and  its 
slippery  burden  with  conscious  power. 

"  What  I  was  saying  when  you  interrupted  me 
so  rudely,"  he  said,  as  he  began  to  ply  his  fork, 
"  was  that  I  called  to  know  why  Miss  Dexter  was 


84  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

neglecting  her  music.  The  house  was  silent  as  the 
grave  as  I  approached." 

"  Why,  I  don't  know,  I  'm  sure.  She  must  have 
just  stepped  upstairs." 

"What  rent  do  you  charge  Gerard  for  that 
boulder  out  yonder  ?  "  Andreas  jerked  his  head 
toward  the  side  of  the  house. 

"  He  does  seem  to  take  comfort  out  of  it,  don't 
he  ?  Sometimes  I  creep  out  just  to  see  if  he  's  there, 
and  he  usually  is.  I  believe  he  'd  lay  there  the 
whole  day,  if  Nathalie  'd  play  that  long.  I  often 
think  how  surprised  she  'd  be  to  know  how  much 
o'  the  time  she  has  an  audience." 

"  Think  she  does  n't  know  it,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  know  she  don't.  Mr.  Gerard  asked  me  not 
to  mention  it.  He  thought  she  might  feel  freer, 
you  know." 

"  Roger  is  a  very  considerate  fellow,  —  ever  no 
ticed  it?"  Russell's  eyes  laughed  at  Miss  Tooth- 
aker  above  the  checked  apron. 

"  Well,  I  guess  he  is,"  she  returned  seriously. 
"  He  's  the  most  perfect  gentleman  /  ever  saw." 

"  Miss  Pris,  Miss  Pris  !  And  I  sitting  here  beat 
ing  eggs  for  you  so  pleasantly  with  a  bib  on  !  " 

"  You  do  it  first-rate,  too." 

"  I  wonder  if  you  can  guess  what  this  cake  is 
for  ?  "  remarked  Mr.  Andreas  ingratiatingly. 

"  It 's  for  tea.     Want  to  come  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  am  coming.  This  cake  is  for  a  picnic 
tea  over  at  Gull  Island  this  afternoon  at  five.  Such 


AN   IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  85 

a  select  picnic,  too.  Nobody  but  you  and  Miss 
Dexter,  Roger  and  myself." 

"  Russell  Andreas,  I  would  n't  go  in  your  sail 
boat  if  you  begged  me  on  your  bended  knees,  and 
you  know  it." 

"  Yes,  that 's  why  I  've  borrowed  the  Bensons' 
little  vapor  launch." 

"  No,  I  'm  afraid  o'  big  water  anyway." 

"  Miss  Pris,  pause.  This  is  the  first  day  Roger 
has  walked  with  a  cane.  It  must  be  celebrated. 
Miss  Dexter  must  be  chaperoned.  There  is  no 
way  out  of  it.  You  and  I  must  go  to  take  care  of 
the  young  people,  and  with  the  aid  of  my  mother's 
tea-basket  we  '11  do  it.  That  launch  goes  along 
like  a  settled  old  steamer.  You  '11  like  it." 

It  was  one  of  the  occasions  when  Miss  Tooth- 
aker's  ever-ready  conscience  took  a  hand  in  the 
argument.  For  a  trifling  cowardice  she  ought 
not  to  cheat  Nathalie  out  of  a  good  time.  So  she 
gave  herself  up  to  the  dangers  of  the  deep  in  the 
pretty  boat  with  its  flying  flags.  The  wind  was 
steady,  and  the  waves  blue  as  the  sky. 

"  You  see,"  said  Andreas,  as  at  last  they  steamed 
away  from  the  landing,  "  with  only  four  of  us,  if 
Roger  wants  to  keep  up  the  bluff  of  interesting 
invalid,  he  can  lie  down  on  these  cushions  and  rest 
his  game  knee." 

"  Yes,  indeed  !  Lie  down,  Mr.  Gerard,"  said 
Nathalie  joyously.  "  Mr.  Andreas  is  going  to  let 
me  steer  ;  are  n't  you,  Mr.  Andreas  ?  " 


86  MfSS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Nathalie  Dexter,  sit  still.  Don't  you  think  o' 
steerin'  this  boat,"  said  Miss  Toothaker  solemnly. 
She  was  balanced  on  the  very  edge  of  the  seat,  pre 
paring  to  meet  her  Maker. 

"But  I  have  the  chart  here,  see?  "  explained 
Nathalie.  Her  ruddy  brown  hair  was  tied  up  in  a 
white  silk  handkerchief,  away  from  the  ruthless 
wind,  but  a  short  burnished  lock  escaped  here  and 
there.  "  There  is  n't  a  bit  of  danger.  Mr.  An 
dreas  is  obliged  to  stay  by  the  engine,  and,"  turn 
ing  wheedlingly  to  the  lieutenant,  who  was  lying 
stretched  out  under  the  awning,  the  picture  of  lux 
urious  contentment,  "  Mr.  Gerard  does  n't  feel  any 
too  well,  do  you  ?  " 

"Jes'  po'ly,  thank  Gawd,"  responded  Roger, 
smiling. 

Miss  Toothaker  cast  a  glance  at  Russell  as  the 
arbiter  of  her  destiny.  Nathalie  laid  a  covetous 
hand  on  the  smooth  little  wheel,  and  spread  her 
chart  out  before  her. 

The  boat  steamed  on  merrily,  the  water  splash 
ing  to  right  and  left,  and  the  vitalizing  sunshine 
lent  such  a  gay  security  to  the  scene  that  even 
Miss  Priscilla  relaxed  as  time  went  on. 

"  If  you  had  only  brought  the  piano,  Miss  Dex 
ter,"  said  Roger  lazily. 

"  Why  did  n't  you  remind  me  ?  "  returned  the 
girl. 

"  Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  should  think  you'  d 
both  be  sick  of  it,"  remarked  Miss  Toothake* 


AN  IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  87 

"Why?  Are  you,  poor  Miss  Priscilla?"  asked 
Nathalie,  without  turning. 

"  Oh,  I  ain't  obliged  to  listen  to  it." 

"  I  'm  sure  Mr.  Gerard  has  n't  bored  himself 
by  coming  very  often." 

The  lieutenant  lifted  his  heavy  lashes,  and  ex 
changed  a  smile  with  Miss  Priscilla. 

"  What  are  you  doing  with  the  rudder,  Miss 
Nathalie  ? "  called  Andreas.  "  Our  wake  looks 
like  a  snake  in  pain." 

"  Oh,  do,  pray,  Nathalie  "  —  besought  Miss 
Toothaker,  becoming  grave  with  great  suddenness. 

"  I  'm  avoiding  ledges  on  the  chart,"  explained 
Miss  Dexter  with  dignity.  "  Such  ingratitude  !  " 

Roger  left  his  couch,  and  approaching,  leaned 
over  the  chart  beside  her,  humming  a  Pastorale  she 
had  taught  him. 

"  This  chart  is  rather  good  fun,"  he  remarked, 
after  a  minute. 

"Take  hold  there,  Roger,"  called  Andreas. 
"  We  '11  be  chasing  our  tail  in  a  minute." 

Nathalie  sent  him  a  withering  glance,  but  she  re 
linquished  the  wheel,  and  Miss  Toothaker  breathed 
a  sigh  of  partial  relief. 

Nathalie  took  her  seat  with  dignity.  "  I  don't 
suppose  it  is  at  all  good  for  Mr.  Gerard  to  stand  up 
there  and  steer.  He  might  be  jolted  and  strain 
his  knee,"  she  said,  addressing  space. 

"  Oh,  Roger  is  almost  ready  for  anything  now," 
remarked  Andreas  cheerfully.  "He  will  be  dan- 


88  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

cing  next.  By  the  way,  Miss  Dexter,  when  you  see 
Gerard  dance,  you  will  be  glad  you  "  — 

The  lieutenant  cast  a  swift  glance  over  his 
shoulder. 

"  Ahem !  "  continued  Russell  with  a  sudden 
cough,  —  "  glad  that  you  know  him.  Yes,  Roger, 
that 's  Gull  Island  to  the  right  there.  Nice  little 
cove  it  has,  and  a  nice  cup  of  tea  Miss  Toothaker 
will  make  us.  Many  a  one  she  has  made  me.  Ah, 
Miss  Pris$  are  you  going  to  take  me  under  your 
wing  again  next  winter  ?  " 

"  I  doubt  it."  Miss  Toothaker  spoke  curtly,  not 
from  any  ill  temper,  but  because  she  was  afraid 
if  she  allowed  her  attention  to  wander  from  her 
surroundings,  the  boat  might  go  down. 

"  What !  You  would  allow  me  to  run  the  risk 
of  mumps  and  chicken-pox  all  alone  in  the  big- 
city?  What  do  you  mean?  Explain." 

"  When  we  get  on  land,  I  will." 

And  she  did.  After  they  were  seated  in  a  clump 
of  evergreens,  fragrant  with  many  a  fir  balsam,  the 
sliced  cake  before  them,  and  cups  of  hot  tea  in 
hand,  Miss  Priscilla  spoke  :  — 

"  I  'm  gettin'  superstitious  about  receivin'  let 
ters,"  she  announced  impressively.  "  I  almost 
never  in  my  life  got  a  letter  with  nothin'  in  it,  as 
most  folks  do." 

"  It 's  a  shame,  Miss  Pris,"  said  Andreas.  "  I  '11 
write  to  you  as  soon  as  I  leave  the  Pulpit." 

"  When  I  get  a  letter  it  always  means  :  '  Here, 


AN   IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  89 

come  now ;  change  all  your  plans  and  do  somethin' 
you  never  expected  to.'  " 

"  Oh,  Miss  Toothaker,"  protested  Nathalie  plain 
tively,  "  you  are  so  personal !  " 

"  Now  I  've  heard  from  Mr.  Barclay  to-day.  It 's 
the  time  o'  year  I  always  do  hear  from  him.  You 
noticed,  Nathalie,  when  you  handed  me  that  letter 
this  mornin'  I  was  n't  surprised." 

"  No  ;  you  remarked  with  the  utmost  noncha 
lance  that  it  was  from  Mr.  Barclay,  and  have  left 
me  to  burn  with  curiosity  ever  since  as  to  who  Mr. 
Barclay  may  be,  and  what  he  is  saying  to  you." 

"  H'm.  Mr.  Andreas  knows  who  he  is :  "  and 
Miss  Priscilla  took  a  long  drink  of  tea. 

"  He  has  a  very  agreeable  wife,  Miss  Dexter," 
announced  Andreas  gravely. 

"  Yes,  with  one  foot  in  the  grave,"  added  Pris 
cilla,  emerging  from  her  teacup. 

"  Well,  don't  exult  openly,"  said  Andreas,  in  a 
gentle  aside.  "  It  isn't  good  form." 

"  It 's  his  house  I  've  kept  for  two  seasons  in 
Washington ;  and  I  expected  he  would  go  on 
leasin'  it  and  I  should  go  on  keepin'  it  indefinitely. 
We  've  given  each  other  pretty  good  satisfaction, 
and  I  was  all  ready  to  say  '  Yes '  before  I  read  his 
letter  this  mornin'.  As  long  as  the  subject  has 
come  up,  I  '11  tell  you  what  he  said ;  for  any 
way,  I  may  get  drowned  goin'  back  to  the  Pul 
pit,  and  then  I  should  want  one  o'  you  to  answer 
him." 


90  MISS  ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Never !  "  said  Andreas  dramatically.  "  I  'm 
not  going  on  living  without  you,  Miss  Pris.  We 
will  go  down  to  the  sharks  together  !  " 

"  Do  hush  up  !  "  ejaculated  Miss  Toothaker. 

"  It  is  absolutely  safe,"  said  Gerard,  his  eyes 
comforting  her  more  than  his  quiet  words.  "  The 
proprietors  of  that  sort  of  launch,  I  understand, 
offer  a  thousand  dollars  to  any  one  who  will  blow 
it  up." 

"  Generous  offer,"  put  in  Andreas.  "  So  tempt 
ing  to  the  winner." 

"  Land  !  Will  it  blow  up  ?  "  exclaimed  Miss 
Priscilla.  "  I  never  thought  of  its  doin'  anything 
but  tip  over." 

"  There !  You  see,  Roger,  how  unwise  it  is  for 
you  to  put  in  your  oar." 

"  No,  Miss  Toothaker,"  laughed  Nathalie.  "  It 
can't  do  anything  on  a  day  like  this  but  creep-a- 
mouse-y-creep-a-mouse-y  right  home  as  soon  as 
we  're  ready  ;  but  do  tell  us  what  Mr.  Barclay 
wants  you  to  do." 

Miss  Priscilla  turned  to  Andreas.  "  Do  you 
remember  fhat  Southern  girl  that  came  up  to 
Washington  at  Easter,  —  Miss  Archer  ?  " 

"Of  course  I  do.  But  look  out,  Miss  Pris. 
You  are  on  dangerous  ground.  Miss  Archer  is  a 
very  particular  friend  of  Gerard's,  and  he  's  a  reg 
ular  fire-eater  ;  run  you  through  as  soon  as  look 
at  you." 

Miss    Dexter    regarded    the   young  officer  with 


AN   IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  91 

interest.  He  was  leaning  on  his  elbow,  making 
dabs  with  his  teaspoon  at  the  slice  of  lemon  in 
his  cup. 

"  It  is  owing  to  her  that  I  am  in  this  clover 
now,"  he  said.  "  It  was  Miss  Archer  who  recalled 
me  to  Rusty's  mind  with  sufficient  vividness  to 
gain  me  this  invitation." 

"  I  want  to  know  !  Well,  't  ain't  likely  I  should 
be  goin'  to  say  anything  against  her.  She 's  a  real 
nice  girl.  It  seems  her  mother  has  been  writiii' 
to  Mr.  Barclay  "  — 

"  Her  stepmother,"  suggested  Gerard. 

"  Is  it  ?  Her  stepmother,  then.  She  wants 
Mr.  Barclay  to  take  their  house  for  the  winter  in 
stead  of  the  Washington  one  ;  and  Mr.  Barclay 
thinks  the  climate  might  be  better  for  his  wife, 
and  it  might  be  just  as  good  a  business  scheme. 
So  there  't  is ;  and  he  wants  me." 

Roger  Gerard  was  listening  with  fixed  attention. 

"For  a  boarding-house?"  he  asked.  "The 
Archer  place  ?  " 

"Why,  yes.     I  s'pose  so." 

He  nodded.  "  It  was  bound  to  come  to  that," 
he  murmured.  "  Poor  Betty  I  " 

"  Well,  now,  ain't  it  queer  that  they  are  your 
friends !  I  see  you  don't  like  the  idea.  Any 
reason  that  /  ought  not  to  like  it  ?  It  would  be 
real  friendly  in  you,  Mr.  Gerard,  to  tell  me  all  you 
can.  I  ain't  a  bit  enterprisin'.  I  don't  like  new 
things,  or  new  places,  or  new  people  ;  and  my  first 


92  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

impulse  is  to  say  '  No.'  Perhaps  you  '11  bear  me 
out  in  it.  He  says  it 's  Old  Point  Comfort,  or  it 's 
practically  that.  It 's  close  by,  and  his  wife  would 
have  the  benefit  o'  the  sea  air." 

"Yes."  Gerard  bowed  gravely.  "The  house 
is  on  a  creek,  —  salt  water.  Miss  Archer's  grand 
father  built  it  long  before  the  war.  I  have  spent 
much  of  my  life  there,  for  her  father  was  my 
guardian.  Of  course,  I  'm  fond  of  the  place  ;  but 
it  was  bound  to  come.  The  present  Mrs.  Archer 
is  not  a  woman  of  much  sentiment,  and  they  are 
not  too  well  off." 

Something  in  the  lieutenant's  manner  and  tone 
as  he  referred  to  the  present  Mrs.  Archer  roused 
Nathalie's  suspicions. 

"  Can  you  describe  Mrs.  Archer  ?  "  she  asked. 
"  Perhaps  I  know  her." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  that  I  can  describe  her. 
She  is  rather  hurried  and  nervous  in  her  manner, 
not  domestic  at  all  in  her  tastes  "  — 

Miss  Dexter  did  not  care  for  this.  "  Does  she 
wear  her  hair  straight  back  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  wink  her  eyes  fast  and  squint  them  up  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  And  does  she  come  from  Philadelphia  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  It 's  the  same  !  '•'  ejaculated  Nathalie  trium 
phantly.  "  Well,  what  a  strange  world  this  is ! 
Three  of  us  know  the  muffin  man  !  She  was  my 


AN   IMPROMPTU  PICNIC.  93 

chaperon  coming  across  this  spring.  Miss  Tooth- 
aker,  do  they  want  you  to  keep  house  for  her  ?  " 

"Not  exactly;  why?" 

"  Oh,  I  won't  say  anything ;  only  I  fancy  after 
you  've  been  there  a  month,  a  vapor  launch 
would  n't  have  any  horrors  for  you.  I  'm  not  sure 
you  won't  put  to  sea  in  a  tub." 

"Forewarned  is  forearmed,"  returned  Miss  Pris- 
cilla.  "  What  a  good  thing  the  subject  came  up  ! 
No,  ma'am !  This  Mrs.  Archer,  whatever  she  is, 
or  whoever  she  is,  won't  have  anything  to  do  with 
me,  or  I  with  her.  I  make  my  arrangements  with 
the  Barclays,  and  I  mind  my  business,  and  give 
everybody  else  the  privilege  o'  mindin'  theirs." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

EDGEWATER. 

BY  the  time  Lieutenant  Gerard's  leave  expired, 
he  was  a  credit  to  the  invigorating  properties  of 
Pulpit  Point. 

Nathalie  congratulated  him  on  his  altered  ap 
pearance  as  they  stood  on  her  piazza  at  the  close  of 
his  farewell  call. 

"  I  go  away,  Miss  Dexter,  carrying  an  abiding 
sense  of  obligation  to  you,''  he  said  in  his  earnest, 
slow,  Southern  speech. 

"Can't  you  forgive  and  forget?"  she  returned. 
"  A  sense  of  obligation  is  so  unpleasant." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  know  so,"  she  answered,  an  irresistible 
impulse  driving  her  to  meet  his  gentle  courtesy 
with  brusque  frankness.  "  I  have  never  apologized 
to  you  for  startling  you  and  making  you  slip  that 
dreadful  day.  I  do  now." 

He  gazed  at  her  in  astonishment.  "  Were  you 
to  blame  for  my  clumsiness,  and  did  n't  you  make 
the  amende  honorable  on  the  instant  ?  " 

"  Did  that  make  it  right  ? "  she  insisted,  her 
cheeks  tingling  under  his  reposeful  gaze.  "  You 
have  suffered  pain,  been  set  back  in  your  convales- 


EDGE  WATER.  95 

cence,  gone  about  on  crutches,  —  all  on  account  of 
me.  You  might  write  an  essay  on  '  Woman  in  the 
Pulpit.'  "  She  finished  with  an  embarrassed  laugh. 

"  But,  Miss  Dexter,  you  forget  that  had  I  not 
been  a  cripple,  I  should  have  been  led  off  into  all 
sorts  of  expeditions  away  from  your  piano." 

"  You  have  not  asked  me  to  play  a  half-dozen 
times.  I  did  think  you  were  going  to  care  for  it." 
She  allowed  her  disappointment  to  be  apparent. 
"  I  counted  on  it." 

His  eyes  shone  with  quiet  amusement.  "  Do  you 
see  that  boulder  over  there?"  He  pointed  to  it. 
"  On  the  further  side  of  that  rock  the  grass  is 
almost  giving  up  the  ghost.  Miss  Toothaker  may 
have  to  sow  some  more  clover." 

He  noted  the  surprise  and  pleasure  that  slowly 
altered  the  girl's  expression. 

"  It  would  convict  me  of  being  the  idlest  fellow 
in  the  universe  to  own  how  many  hours  you  have 
enchanted  for  me.  One  does  not  hear  music  at  its 
best  except  undisturbed,  in  such  surroundings  as 
this.  That  is  what  I  meant  by  carrying  away  the 
sense  of  obligation.  The  pleasantest  day-dreams 
of  my  life  have  been  enjoyed  over  there  by  that 
rock.  I  will  go  back  now  and  drill  my  men,  and 
march  daily  to  the  music  of  the  band  ;  but  the  past 
will  go  with  me.  I  shall  recall  a  melody  and  taste 
this  crisp  air,  see  the  breakers  fling  themselves 
against  the  Pulpit  and  watch  the  white  sails  pass. 
Nor,"  he  lowered  his  voice,  "  shall  I  forget  that  it 


96  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

is  owing  to  you  that  I  can  march.  Don't  belittle 
what  you  did  for  me." 

"  You  don't  mind  it,  then  ?  "  she  asked,  almost 
imploringly,  and  her  hand  was  in  his. 

"Take  care  of  these  clever  hands,"  he  said, 
smiling.  "  Who  knows  but  I  may  come  under 
their  magic  again  some  day?" 

When  he  was  gone,  Nathalie  went  slowly  into 
the  house  and  sat  down  at  the  piano ;  but  she 
did  not  touch  the  keys.  When  Miss  Toothaker 
returned  later  from  some  errand,  she  found  her  so. 

The  girl  started  up  from  her  reverie.  "  Mr. 
Gerard  has  been  here  to  say  good-by.  He  was 
sorry  to  miss  you." 

"  Pshaw !     Well,  I  '11  see  him  off  at  the  boat." 

"  He  said  he  should  see  you  in  a  short  time, 
anyway,  at  the  Archers'." 

"  Yes,  indeed.  That  surely  is  one  advantage 
that  '11  come  with  my  Virginia  experiment :  I  shall 
see  Mr.  Gerard  occasionally." 

"  I  think  he  is  probably  engaged  to  that  Miss 
Archer,  by  the  way  Mr.  Andreas  spoke."  Miss 
Dexter  had  already  extracted  from  her  housekeeper 
all  the  particulars  she  could  give  of  the  Southern 
girl. 

"  I  wonder,  now,  if  he  is  ?  "  said  Miss  Priscilla, 
at  once  pleased  with  the  idea. 

"Of  course  he  is,"  thought  Nathalie,  sinking- 
back  into  her  reverie,  "  and  I  have  been  orchestra 
for  the  sentimental  and  dramatic  scenes  of  his  day- 


EDGEWATER.  97 

dreams."  She  tried  to  think  back.  What  had  she 
played  most  ?  What  had  she  played  best  ?  How 
strange  that  he  had  been  listening  all  the  time. 
Well,  he  was  going  now,  and  forever,  so  far  as  she 
was  concerned.  She  should  never,  in  all  proba 
bility,  spend  another  summer  at  the  Pulpit ;  though, 
for  that  matter,  neither  was  it  very  likely  that  he 
would.  He  was  gone,  and  it  mattered  nothing. 
He  was  engaged  to  a  Southern  girl  who  lisped,  — 
how  could  he  admire  a  girl  who  lisped  !  —  and  she, 
Nathalie,  had  her  object  in  life,  her  career  just  the 
same,  whoever  came  or  went.  The  Reverend  Lewis 
Andreas  had  been  right.  Nothing  was  so  impor 
tant,  nothing  such  a  protection  to  a  girl,  as  to  have 
a  career. 

So  she  went  on  with  her  work,  and  when,  linger- 
ingly  and  reluctantly,  she  and  Miss  Toothaker  at 
last  closed  the  cottage  and  bade  farewell  to  the 
Pulpit,  she  went  back  to  Boston,  and  there  began 
her  study  with  the  famous  teacher. 

Her  mother  remained  away  until  the  last  of 
March,  and  Nathalie,  boarding  with  some  friends 
who  were  sufficiently  in  sympathy  with  her  to  en 
dure  her  practicing,  threw  an  amount  of  energy 
into  her  work  which,  by  the  time  of  her  mother's 
home-coming,  made  her  gowns  rather  loose  and  her 
eyes  hollow. 

"  It  is  time  I  came,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter  to  herself, 
at  the  moment  when  Nathalie  at  last  closed  the 
door  upon  all  other  welcoming  friends,  and  they 


98  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

sat  in  her  room,  blessedly  alone,  feasting  upon  one 
another  with  their  eyes. 

Mrs.  Dexter's  were  blue,  and  her  hair  white. 
The  lines  about  her  mouth  showed  that  her  life  had 
not  been  all  calm ;  yet  the  serenity  of  her  smile 
was  a  charm  that  one  waited  for,  and  even  with  her 
white  hair  she  looked  young,  —  young  enough  to  be 
the  sympathetic  companion  of  her  daughter,  and 
this  she  was. 

"  You  write  good  letters,  Nathalie,  and  yet  there 
are  some  things  for  me  to  learn.  You  have  been 
working  harder  than  I  knew.  Harder  than  last 
winter?" 

"  No,  but  it  is  different  over  there,  where  one 
only  works  and  recreates.  Here  there  are  people 
one  knows, — kind,  dreadful  people,  who  invite  one; 
and  being  pulled  different  ways  is  wearing ;  but  I 
am  well,  —  perfectly  well." 

"Your  summer  was  a  success?" 

"Oh,  entirely  so." 

"  And  good  Miss  Toothaker,  I  suppose,  is  in 
Washington  ?  I  must  write  to  her." 

"No,  she  keeps  a  boarding-house  in  Virginia  this 
winter.  Did  n't  I  tell  you  ?  She  wrote  me  once 
soon  after  she  arrived  there,  but  that  is  all  I  've 
heard.  All  I  deserve,  too,  for  I  don't  write  to  her. 
There  is  an  odd  coincidence  connected  with  her 
new  home." 

Nathalie  had  unselfishly  concealed  from  her  mo 
ther  the  details  of  her  homeward  trip  a  year  ago, 


EDGE  WATER.  99 

and  now  she  told  her  the  story,  laughing  gayly 
over  circumstances  which  had  seemed  so  dire  dur 
ing  their  occurrence.  "  Miss  Toothaker  wrote  me 
that  Mrs.  Archer  was  away  visiting  in  Philadelphia 
when  she  arrived,  so  I  Ve  never  heard  how  she  gets 
on  with  her,  if  she  is  there,"  she  finished. 

"  My  dear,  brave  daughter !  "  said  Mrs.  Dexter, 
holding  the  girl's  hand  and  regarding  her  affection 
ately.  "  I  have  hungered  for  you,  Nathalie.  What 
a  reward  this  is,  for  us  to  be  together  again." 
After  a  minute  she  added  unexpectedly :  "  Instead 
of  my  corresponding  with  Miss  Toothaker,  let  us 
go  to  see  her." 

"  Oh,  how  can  I?"  returned  Nathalie,  with  quick 
protest. 

"  Try  to  manage  it  by  the  second  week  in  April. 
Don't  you  think  you  could  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  could,"  answered  the  girl  slowly.  "  You 
want  me  to  stop  studying?"  Mrs.  Dexter  nodded, 
with  a  brightening  of  the  eyes  and  a  smiling  tight 
ening  of  the  lips. 

"  Oh,  mother !     It  would  mean  all  summer." 

"  I  know  it  would ;  and  I  think  that  would  be 
best." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so?  " 

"  I  see  that  you  are  tired." 

"  We  have  never  been  to  Virginia,"  said  Na 
thalie  thoughtfully,  and  she  thought  of  the  girl  who 
lisped.  "  I  have  a  queer  feeling  about  going,"  she 
added  quickly.  "  I  would  rather  not  go." 


100  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  You  are  tired  enough  for  all  your  feelings  to 
be  queer.  German,  harmony,  Mr.  Brandon,  and 
some  society !  It  has  told  upon  you." 

"  Why  should  we  go  to  that  place  ? "  asked 
Nathalie. 

"  Because  I  want  to  see  Miss  Toothaker  and 
thank  her.  Where  is  she  ?  " 

"  It  is  near  Old  Point  Comfort." 

"  And  you  are  reluctant  about  going  !  "  Mrs. 
Dexter  laughed.  "  My  dear,  you  are  in  a  worse 
way  than  I  thought.  A  girl  who  makes  difficulties 
about  going  to  Old  Point  Comfort  is  in  need  of 
heroic  measures." 

"  The  house  is  called  Edgewater,  Miss  Tootha 
ker  says,"  remarked  Nathalie.  "  It  is  on  a  creek." 
She  remembered  the  clump  of  firs  on  Gull  Island, 
where  she  had  first  heard  about  it.  She  recalled 
how  Mr.  Andreas  rallied  his  friend.  She  saw 
Roger  Gerard  and  his  interest  in  the  lemon  in  his 
cup. 

"  I  think  we  must  see  it,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter. 

She  wrote  Miss  Toothaker  to  make  arrangements 
for  a  room,  and  received  a  reply  which  came  as 
near  to  enthusiasm  in  its  expression  of  satisfaction 
at  the  prospect  of  seeing  them  as  Miss  Priscilla 
could  come.  This  she  read  to  Nathalie,  in  the 
expectation  of  inspiring  her  with  anticipation ;  but 
the  girl  received  it  with  quiet  assent. 

"  If  you  were  not  thin,  Nathalie,  I  would  change 
my  mind,"  remarked  Mrs.  Dexter.  "  I  would  leave 


EDGE  WATER.  101 

you  here  and  take  some  other  girl,  who  wanted  to 
go." 

"  Oh  —  you  are  good  to  me,  mother !  I  would 
like  Mr.  Brandon  to  go  with  us,  —  that  is  all." 

"  But  he  does  n't  wish  you  to  go  on  with  your 
lessons.  He  says  it  will  be  gain  to  you  to  rest. 
I  should  suppose  that  would  make  your  mind 
so  easy  that  you  would  be  charmed  at  the  pros 
pect." 

"  I  ought  to  be,"  answered  Nathalie  slowly,  and 
with  such  speculative  eyes  that  her  mother  laughed 
infectiously. 

"  You  are  dazed  with  study,"  she  said.  "  We 
will  leave  cobblestones,  and  east  winds,  and  shut-up 
rooms,  and  the  din  of  traffic,  and  live  out  of  doors 
awhile.  It  will  make  a  new  girl  of  you." 

It  was  in  the  last  twilight  of  an  April  evening 
that  they  reached  the  little  Virginia  station  near 
which  were  the  grounds  of  Edgewater.  As  soon 
as  they  alighted  from  the  train,  they  perceived 
Miss  Toothaker  speeding  across  a  green  field  in 
the  direction  of  the  depot,  followed  by  a  colored 
boy. 

"  I  expected  to  be  right  on  hand  to  the  minute," 
she  cried,  when  she  had  hurried  within  earshot. 
"  But,  land  !  you  can't  calc'late  a  thing  down  here 
about  time.  You  can't  get  your  help  to  have  one 
idea  of  it.  There  ain't  a  day  passes  that  I  don't 
wish  I  had  a  whippin'-post  in  the  yard." 

"Worse   than  Cap'n   Levi?"   asked  Nathalie; 


102  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

but  the  name  was  cut  short  by  the  hard,  pecking 
kiss  that  Miss  Priscilla  bestowed  on  her. 

"  Junius,  take  these  bags  to  the  house,  and  then 
get  the  trunks  over.  Mrs.  Dexter,  how've  you 
been  ?  You  look  well.  Welcome  to  Old  Vir- 
ginny.  What's  the  matter  with  you,  Nathalie? 
You  look  like  the  heroine  of  an  old-fashioned 
novel.  Where  's  those  cheeks  you  had  at  Pulpit 
Point?" 

"  We  hope  they  're  down  here,"  said  Mrs.  Dex 
ter.  "  We  thought  it  worth  while  to  look,  any 
way.  This  girl  has  worked  too  hard,  you  see ;  that 
is  all." 

"  And  how  have  you  liked  Edge  water  ?  "  asked 
Nathalie. 

Miss  Toothaker's  lips  twitched.  "  Very  well," 
she  replied  non-committally.  "  I  fetched  my  same 
colored  boy  with  me  I  had  in  Washington,  and  he 
knows  my  ways,  and  the  Barclays  are  well  pleased 
from  a  business  standpoint.  It's  all  right,  and 
it 's  a  pretty  place.  Tea 's  ready  ;  we  have  it  late 
here.  I  must  go  right  in.  Junius  will  show  you 
your  room,  and  you  come  soon  as  you  can." 

It  was  too  dusk,  being  a  cloudy  evening,  to  get 
more  than  a  general  idea  of  spacious  grounds 
before  they  hurried  into  the  square  brick  house. 
Emerging  a  few  minutes  later  from  their  room, 
they  met  Junius,  who  with  an  airy  bow  conducted 
them  through  a  latticed  walk  and  into  the  well- 
lighted  dining-room  beyond. 


EDGEWATER.  103 

Here  was  a  long,  well-filled  table,  and  as  they 
took  the  two  vacant  places,  Miss  Toothaker  named 
them  to  their  immediate  neighbors. 

A  lady  across  the  table  put  up  her  lorgnette  and 
surveyed  Nathalie. 

"  I  cannot  be  mistaken,"  she  said,  and  her  voice 
sent  thrills  of  unpleasant  association  over  the  girl. 
"  Surely  it  is  Miss  Dexter.  Why,  Miss  Dexter, 
this  is  a  most  unexpected  pleasure." 

"  Good-evening,  Mrs.  Archer,"  responded  Na 
thalie  composedly.  "  My  mother,  Mrs.  Archer." 

"  Happy  to  meet  you,  Mrs.  Dexter.  Your 
daughter  and  I  had  a  very  pleasant  trip  together  a 
year  ago.  Oh,  Miss  Dexter,  have  you  ever  seen 
any  more  of  that  delightful  Father  Andreas  ?  " 

"  I  never  have." 

"  By  a  strange  coincidence,  I  found  when  I 
reached  home  that  my  daughter  had  met  him. 
Betty  ?  Where  is  Betty  ?  Oh,  yes !  I  remem 
ber;  she  is  taking  tea  at  Hampton  to-night. 
Was  n't  it  strange  that  she  should  have  met  him  ? 
We  have  never  seen  him  again,  but  his  brother 
has  been  here  once.  My  dear,  if  you  could  see  his 
brother,  you  would  lose  your  heart.  You  really 
would.  Never  have  I  seen  a  young  man  who  car 
ries  in  his  person  the  sign  and  seal  of  fine  antece 
dents  more  markedly  than  Russell  Andreas.  You 
know  the  strange  part  of  it  was  that  my  daughter 
met  him,  too,  at  a  time  when  he  was  residing  with 
our  good  Miss  Toothaker  at  the  capital ;  so  when 


104          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

business  brought  him  this  way  he  naturally  looked 
in  upon  us.  I  really  hope  you  will  meet  him 
some  time." 

Good  Miss  Toothaker  caught  Nathalie's  eye  with 
an  expression  which  made  her  smile. 

The  lowered  tone  in  which  Mrs.  Archer  deliv 
ered  her  address  across  the  table  was  distinctly 
patronizing. 

"  I  have  met  him,"  returned  the  girl. 

Mrs.  Archer  lifted  her  lorgnette  in  surprise. 

"  Miss  Toothaker  is  an  old  friend  of  ours,"  said 
Mrs.  Dexter  gently.  "She  took  care  of  my 
daughter  for  me  through  the  summer." 

"Then  you  knew  they  were  coming,"  remarked 
Mrs.  Archer  to  Priscilla  in  a  changed  voice. 
"You  did  not  speak  of  it.  However,  of  course 
you  did  not  know  that  Miss  Dexter  and  I  were 
acquainted." 

After  this  Mrs.  Archer  applied  herself  to  her 
crab  salad,  her  thoughts  running  something  after 
this  fashion  :  "  I  knew  she  was  nobody  "  (sAe  be 
ing  Nathalie).  "  Friends  of  Miss  Toothaker ! 
My  instinct  never  deceives  me.  Mr.  Andreas 
claims  Miss  Toothaker  for  a  friend  also ;  but  a 
lonely  young  man,  so,  is  different.  There  are 
friendships  de  convenances,  and  I  've  no  doubt  she 
was  very  useful  to  him  when  he  boarded  with  her. 
Fortunate  that  Betty  was  out  to-night.  I  shall 
have  a  talk  with  her."  -  * 


ED  GE  WATER.  105 

"  Hope  springs  eternal  in  the  human  breast," 
and  Mrs.  Archer  never  despaired  of  making  an 
effect  upon  her  stepdaughter  by  the  words  of  wis 
dom  she  was  always  willing  to  bestow  upon  her. 
Probably  Betty's  attitude  contributed  to  this  mis 
placed  confidence.  She  had  a  quiet,  receptive 
manner,  as  gentle  and  non-resistant  as  that  of  an 
amiable  little  child ;  and  she  wore  it  that  evening 
in  her  mother's  bedroom,  when  called  there  upon 
her  return  from  the  Institute. 

"  Some  new  people  have  come  to-night,"  began 
Mrs.  Archer.  "  Betty,"  fretfully,  "  I  wreh  you 
would  turn  the  bows  on  that  hat,  if  you  can't  do 
any  more ;  they  really  are  too  faded." 

The  girl  took  off  her  headgear  and  examined  it 
attentively. 

"  They  are  not  the  sort  I  care  to  have  you  mix 
with." 

"  I  don't  care  to  mix  with  faded  beaux,  ma- 
self." 

"  Be  serious  !  I  am.  These  people  are  friends 
of  Miss  Toothaker.  That  is  enough.  Of  course, 
Miss  Toothaker  is  a  very  good  person.  The 
daughter  -will  probably  try  to  claim  an  acquaint 
ance  with  you.  She  is  the  girl  I  told  you  I  chap 
eroned  across  the  water  last  spring,  and  who  be 
haved  so  boldly  with  Father  Andreas." 

A  trace  of  eagerness  came  into  Miss  Archer's 
passive  manner.  "  What  is  the  name  ?  " 


106  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Dexter.     Nathalie  Dexter." 

"  Roger's  friend." 

"  Why,  no !     He  does  n't  know  her." 

"  Yes  ;  she  is  the  girl  who  played  the  piano  at 
Pulpit  Point.  Have  n't  you  heard  him  talk  about 
it?" 

"  No,  I  have  not." 

"  I  have.  He  and  Miss  Toothaker  often  speak 
about  the  good  times  they  all  had  together  last 
summer.  Mr.  Andreas  spoke  of  it,  too,  when  he 
was  here." 

"  Well,  last  summer  was  last  summer,"  returned 
Mrs.  Archer  decidedly.  "  Young  men  go  any 
where  and  do  anything  that  amuses  them ;  but 
with  a  young  lady  it  is  different.  They  are  not 
the  sort  of  people  who  would  ever  have  come 
under  the  roof  of  Edge  water  in  its  palmy  days." 

"  Nor  now,  then,  had  it  not  been  for  you,"  re 
turned  Betty. 

Despite  the  cool,  dispassionate  tone  in  which 
the  words  were  said,  Mrs.  Archer  colored  deeply. 
"  Then  I  hope  you  are  sufficiently  obliged  to  me," 
she  retorted.  "  We  had  come  to  where  we  could 
not  even  scrape  along  any  longer  ;  whereas  now 
you  do  not  even  need  to  paint  unless  you  like.  A 
few  years  like  this,  and  I  could  invite  you  to  Phil 
adelphia  for  a  season.  You  would  find  out  then 
whether  I  could  be  a  useful  friend.  In  fact,  any 
time  when  you  will  put  sentimentality  aside,  as  / 


EDGEWATER.  107 

can,  and  give  your  consent  to  sell  the  place,  we  can 
live  and  travel  as  we  like." 

"  You  have  said  that  before." 

"  And  I  shall  say  it  again,  very  likely  !  "  Mrs. 
Archer  winked  fast,  after  her  habit  when  excited, 
and  kept  on  muttering  to  herself  after  Betty  had 
left  her. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

VACATION. 

"EDGEWATER  stands  on  a  creek."  Nathalie  re 
membered  Mr.  Gerard's  description  of  the  Virgin 
ian  homestead  as  she  stood  on  the  gallery  in  front 
of  her  room  the  day  after  their  arrival. 

The  "  creek  "  was  to  her  eyes  a  large  salt-water 
bay,  flowing  like  a  river  this  morning  under  the 
soft  wind,  the  high  tide  bringing  its  waves  to  the 
very  fence  that  edged  the  grounds.  Across  its 
broad,  rippled  spaces  came  sweetly  a  bugle  call 
from  the  fort. 

Fortress  Monroe.  There  it  lay  in  warm  sun 
shine,  its  distant  verdant  parapet  guarding  the 

post.  "  Lieutenant  Roger  Gerard, Artillery, 

U.  S.  A."  Nathalie  believed  she  had  his  card 
somewhere  yet. 

Again  came  the  mellowed  notes  of  the  bugle. 
She  wondered  if  it  were  calling  him,  —  wondered 
with  a  blissful  lack  of  interest.  Such  contentment, 
such  leisure  were  in  this  place  of  heavenly  rest. 
In  her  tired  condition  the  girl  could  think  of  no 
thing  desirable  to  add  to  the  present  blessed  mo 
ment. 

The  wide,  smooth   lawns  of  Edgewater  rested 


VACATION.  109 

her  eyes.  At  her  left  a  dozen  peach  and  pear 
trees  in  full  bloom  feasted  her  soul  with  their  ethe 
real,  snowy,  rosy  blossoms.  Down  the  gentle 
slope  toward  the  water,  spreading  shade  trees 
upreared  their  massive  trunks  and  stretched 
symmetrical  boughs,  delicately  clothed  in  spring 
foliage.  Rustic  seats  surrounded  these.  Tall 
magnolias  and  sturdy  rosebushes  stood  all  about, 
full  of  promise ;  but  Nathalie  scarcely  noticed 
them.  Her  eyes  rested  affectionately  on  the  vio 
lets  and  buttercups  striving  for  space  in  the  grass. 
She  inhaled  the  breath  of  the  old  box  hedge  which 
everywhere  bordered  the  walks.  She  felt  herself 
as  truly  in  paradise  as  did  the  butterflies  rollicking 
and  frolicking  on  every  hand,  or  the  birds  that 
lighted  near  her  and  regarded  her  with  trustful 
eyes. 

She  forgot  to  regret  Mr.  Brandon  and  the  circu 
lating  musical  library.  Those  catbirds  were  bet 
ter  than  the  Symphony  concerts.  Even  the  bell 
of  the  trolley  car  which  raced  across  the  bridge 
dividing  the  creek  from  Hampton  Roads  was  a 
remote  suggestion  of  the  city's  noise,  which  but 
heightened  her  content  in  this  utter  contrast. 

She  had  not  known  until  now  how  tired  she  was  ; 
and  a  grateful  acknowledgment  of  her  mother's 
wisdom  stole  over  her.  She  appreciated  being  left 
alone  at  the  present  moment,  to  drink  in  the  novel 
loveliness.  This  was  indeed  rest.  It  was  new 
life. 


110          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

At  this  point  in  her  meditations  she  became  con 
scious  that  there  was  another  person  beside  herself 
on  the  gallery.  Involuntarily  she  turned  her  eyes 
to  see  who  it  was,  pausing  over  there  beside  a 
pillar. 

Instinctively  she  felt  at  once  that  it  was  the  girl 
who  lisped.  Nathalie  had  been  aware  of  her,  flut 
tering  in  some  remote  corner  of  her  consciousness, 
every  moment  since  her  arrival,  but  as  yet  she  had 
been  a  will-o'-the-wisp.  This  young  person,  with 
the  smooth  brown  hair  and  observant  eyes,  must 
be  she. 

Now  that  the  moment  had  come,  Miss  Dexter 
shrank  anew  from  meeting  her.  Ah,  the  girl  was 
approaching.  Why  was  not  Edgewater  a  desert 
isle! 

"  Is  n't_  this  Miss  Dexter  ? "  asked  the  clear, 
pleasant  Southern  voice. 

Nathalie  had  learned  enough  of  this  stranger 
from  Miss  Toothaker  at  the  Pulpit  to  be  certain 
that  she  was  of  a  different  order  from  her  step 
mother.  Nevertheless,  she  now  admitted  her  own 
identity  in  a  cool  manner. 

Betty's  expression  of  indecision  vanished,  and 
she  smiled  with  pleasure  as  she  took  in  the  details 
of  her  companion's  face. 

"You  don't  know  who  I  am,"  she  said,  "but 
I  know  who  you  are.  We  have  several  mutual 
friends." 

She  was  like  the  landscape,  —  piquant,  and  sunny, 


VACATION.  Ill 

and  winning.  An  added  charm  surrounded  her 
to  Nathalie  as  the  latter  realized  that  this  home 
of  beauty  was  the  girl's  natural  environment,  her 
native  element.  What  wonder  that  her  face  was 
fair  and  her  voice  reposeful !  Instantly  her  suita 
bility  to  the  peculiar  characteristics  and  tastes  of 

Lieutenant  Gerard  of  the Artillery  suggested 

itself  with  force. 

"  Miss  Toothaker  and  Mr.  Gerard  have  spoken 
to  me  of  you,"  went  on  Miss  Archer,  "  and  we  had 
a  call  from  Mr.  Andreas  during  the  winter,  and 
he  talked  of  you,  too.  I  'm  Betty  Archer.  Per 
haps  you  've  heard  ma  name." 

"Yes,  I  have,  Miss  Archer."  Nathalie  felt  her 
manner  to  be  stiff  compared  to  the  other's  genial 
ity,  and  hated  herself  for  it,  especially  because  she 
found  she  took  a  certain  enjoyment  in  her  own 
coldness,  and  had  no  intention  of  thawing.  "  Your 
home  here  is  ideal." 

"  I  'm  so  glad  the  sun  shines  fo'  you  this  morn 
ing.  It  has  been  unpleasant  fo'  nearly  a  week; 
but  you  see  Nature  was  only  preparing  fo'  yo' 
reception  —  getting  her  bouquets  ready.  You  de 
serve  it,  you  know,  fo'  the  grand  time  you  made 
Roger  have  at  Pulpit  Point.  We  feel  just  as 
grateful  —  Mrs.  Archer  and  I  —  as  if  you  'd  done 
it  fo'  us." 

"  I  did  nothing,  —  absolutely  nothing."  Na 
thalie  raised  her  eyebrows. 

"  Oh,  he  does  n't  think  so." 


112          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Miss  Dexter  was  silent  for  a  time. 

"  Is  he  quite  well  again  ?  "  she  asked  at  last, 
with  chilling  politeness. 

"  Entirely  so,  thank  you." 

"Not  lame  at  all?" 

"  Lame  ?  "  asked  Betty,  with  courteous  surprise. 
"  Why  should  he  be  lame  ?  " 

Miss  Dexter  crimsoned  with  conflicting  sensa 
tions,  in  which  impatience  at  her  own  stupidity 
was  dashed  with  a  strange  gratification  that  Mr. 
Gerard  had  not  told  their  adventure  to  this  sweet 
girl.  Then,  as  quickly,  she  rebuffed  the  pleasant 
emotion  with  a  reminder  that  it  was  not  strange  he 
had  refrained  from  mentioning  a  circumstance  of 
which  he  was  ashamed. 

She  turned  her  flushed  face  aside  to  smooth 
back  a  breeze-blown  lock.  "  Oh,  he  had  a  slight 
sprain  at  Pulpit  Point.  It  passed  right  off,  proba 
bly,"  she  said  carelessly. 

"  It  must  have.  It  would  n't  do  to  have  Roger 
lame,"  added  Betty,  with  a  little  laugh.  "  I 
should  lose  a  lot  of  dancing." 

"  You  go  to  the  Hygeia,  I  presume,"  remarked 
Nathalie  perfunctorily. 

"  Yes,  occasionally." 

Betty  pursued  her  valiant  attempt  to  be  com 
panionable  for  some  time  longer,  and  ended  by 
asking  Miss  Dexter  to  accompany  her  that  after 
noon  to  parade,  —  an  invitation  which  Nathalie 
refused  with  a  decision  faultlessly  polite. 


VACATION.  113 

As  a  consequence  of  this  interview,  when  Roger 
Gerard  found  Betty  under  her  accustomed  live-oak 
fifteen  minutes  before  parade,  she  reproached  him. 

He  lifted  his  cap  as  he  drew  near. 

"  Did  n't  Miss  Dexter  arrive  ?  "  he  asked  with 
concern. 

"Yes." 

"  You  promised  to  bring  her  over." 

"Yes,  in  ma  innocence.  I'd  no  idea  what  a 
contract  I  'd  undertaken." 

"  Why  that  tone,  Betty  ?  I  was  sure  you  would 
like  each  other." 

"  We  do  —  to  a  degree.  I  like  her  hair,  and 
she  likes  ma  home.  She  is  good  enough  to  say  it 
is  ideal." 

Gerard  smiled.  "  And  she  prefers  to  stay  in  it, 
does  she  ?  " 

"  Apparently.  Why  did  n't  you  tell  me  how 
impossible  she  is  ?  " 

"  Impossible  ?  What  an  idea !  I  found  her  not 
only  possible,  but  probable.  Even  actual." 

"  She 's  that  kind,  then,"  mused  Miss  Archer 
aloud. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Some  girls  are  that  way,"  explained  Betty. 
"  The  masculine  element  acts  on  them  like  chamois 
leather  on  silver." 

"  She  is  very  unaffected,"  averred  Gerard. 

"  T  found  her  so,"  rejoined  Miss  Archer. 

When  Mrs.  Dexter  finally  joined  her  daughter 


114  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

on  that  same  morning,  Nathalie  had  strayed  out 
into  the  pavilion  built  half  a  dozen  rods  from 
the  shore  in  the  water,  directly  in  front  of  the 
house. 

As  the  girl  perceived  her  mother  advancing 
along  the  narrow  pier,  she  waved  her  hand  to  her. 

"  I  should  like  this  day  to  be  a  week  long," 
declared  Nathalie,  as  she  rose  to  meet  her.  "  I 
am  renewing  my  youth." 

"Eeally?"  Mrs.  Dexter  smiled.  "I  think, 
too,  that  we  are  very  much  obliged  to  Miss  Tooth- 
aker." 

They  entered  the  pavilion,  and  Mrs.  Dexter 
refusing  the  hammock,  Nathalie  took  possession  of 
it,  while  her  mother  seated  herself  by  the  railing. 

"  Obliged  to  Miss  Toothaker  ?  "  repeated  the 
girl.  "  I  should  say  the  thanks  were  due  your 
guardian  angel.  I  suppose  he  is  around  just  the 
same  as  ever." 

"  I  hope  so,  I  'm  sure,"  returned  Mrs.  Dexter. 
Nathalie  had  been  used  to  say  that  her  mother's 
reliance  on  this  unseen  guide  was  as  practical  as 
the  confidence  she  gave  her  grocer  and  butcher. 

"  One  thing  is  certain.  We  had  no  idea  of  the 
loveliness  we  were  coming  to."  Mrs.  Dexter's 
glance  swept  about  her  surroundings.  "  This  is 
not  much  like  the  waste  of  boards  and  sand  about 
the  hotels  across  there  at  the  Point.  I  have  just 
been  talking  with  the  daughter  of  the  house." 

"  You  mean  the  stepdaughter." 


VACATION.  115 

"  Is  she  ?  She  certainly  does  n't  resemble  Mrs. 
Archer  in  any  particular.  I  'm  afraid  I  may  be 
prejudiced  against  that  lady  a  little.  At  all 
events,  the  daughter  is  very  attractive." 

"  Is  n't  she  ?  " 

"  Her  talk  is  bewitching,  and  her  face  makes 
you  want  to  hug  her.  Don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  She  is  charming,"  declared  Nathalie,  with  all 
the  enthusiasm  she  could  throw  into  her  manner. 

"  It  is  good  fortune  for  you  to  find  such  a  girl 
here.  A  congenial  companion  for  you  to  go  about 
with"- 

"  Don't  mention  such  a  thing,"  interrupted 
Nathalie  quickly.  "  I  have  n't  seen  you  for  a 
year.  Don't  fancy  you  are  going  to  put  me  off 
on  any  girl.  I  don't  want  to  see  anybody  but 
you  ;  not  anybody  at  all." 

The  unnecessary  warmth  with  which  this  decla 
ration  was  made  was  another  proof  to  Mrs.  Dexter 
of  her  child's  fatigued  condition. 

"  You  set  me  up,  my  dear,"  she  returned  gently. 
After  a  minute  she  went  on :  "  Miss  Archer  has 
just  been  telling  me  about  a  Mr.  Gerard  whom  she 
says  you  know  well." 

"  Yes  ?  "  Nathalie's  hands  were  crossed  under 
neath  her  head,  and  her  eyes  lazily  regarding  the 
masts  of  the  shipping  in  Hampton  Roads. 

"  He  was  at  Pulpit  Point,  I  understand.  I 
don't  remember  his  name." 

"  Did  n't  I  write  of  him  ?     It  is  n't  remarkable. 


116  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

I  didn't  see  very  much  of  people.  I  was  so 
busy." 

"  That  suited  him,  it  seems.  Miss  Archer  says 
he  was  never  weary  of  hearing  you  play." 

"  Well,  I  don't  mean  to  tire  people  with  it." 

"  I  am  just  waiting  for  the  right  time  for 
another  feast." 

"  Then  you  've  brought  me  to  the  wrong  place. 
I  feel  that  I  shan't  want  to  do  that  kind  of  play 
ing  here." 

"  You  thoroughly  enjoyed  Pulpit  Point,  did  n't 
you  ?  There  was  a  Mr.  Andreas  you  wrote  me 
about,  —  the  brother  of  your  kind  friend  of  the 
steamer." 

"  Yes.  Did  n't  you  hear  Mrs.  Archer  talking 
about  him  last  night  ?  He  is  one  of  the  elect,  in 
her  estimation.  It  was  a  blow  to  her  to  learn  that 
I  knew  him." 

"  Poor  lady !  " 

"  Now,  mother,  don't  begin  using  that  tone 
about  Mrs.  Archer  !  Next  thing  you  will  be  tell 
ing  me  I  've  got  to  love  her." 

"  Don't  worry,  my  dear.  There  are  only  two 
things  we  must  love." 

"  Well,  so  long  as  Mrs.  Archer  is  n't  one  of 
them  "  - 

"  You  remember  —  Goodness  and  Truth." 

"  Very  well ;  then  my  chaperon  is  out  of  it." 

"  On  the  contrary,  they  are  at  the  soul  of  her,  or 
she  would  n't  be  alive.  Perhaps  there  is  a  good 


VACATION.  117 

deal  of  excavating  to  be  done  in  her  case ;  or  per 
haps  the  rubbish  can  be  burned  away  by  love. 
Aversion,  repugnance,  never  accomplished  any 
thing  worthy.  Don't  try  those  instruments." 

A  friend  of  Mrs.  Dexter's  had  once  said  to 
Nathalie  :  "  My  dear,  your  mother  lives  more 
nearly  transparent  to  heaven  than  any  one  I  ever 
knew."  The  words  had  remained  in  the  girl's 
mind,  and  she  remembered  them  now  as  she  met 
her  mother's  tranquil,  clear  gaze.  A  provoking 
recollection  of  her  own  recent  interview  with  Betty 
Archer  flashed  across  her.  She  stirred  in  the 
hammock. 

"  It  is  my  vacation,  and  I  wish  you  would  let 
me  be  as  bad  as  I  want  to  be,"  she  returned  plain 
tively. 

Mrs.  Dexter  laughed.  "  Here  is  Miss  Tooth- 
aker,"  she  announced,  as  Miss  Priscilla  approached 
on  the  narrow  walk. 

"  I  thought  I  recognized  Nathalie's  striped 
waist,"  called  the  newcomer,  "  and  I  made  up  my 
mind  I  'd  snatch  a  minute  to  ask  you  how  you  was 
'  likin','  as  Cap'n  Levi  used  to  say.  Remember 
that,  Nathalie  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  remember.  What  a  different  sea  air 
this  is,  Miss  Priscilla !  —  as  soft  as  velvet  and  cool 
as  satin." 

"  Yes."  Miss  Toothaker  came  into  the  pavilion 
and  dropped  on  the  wooden  seat.  "  This  and  Pul 
pit  Point  are  both  sea  air,  and  a  banana  and  a 


118  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

cucumber  are  a  good  deal  the  same  shape ;  but 
there  's  just  as  much  difference  between  the  two 
airs  as  there  is  between  the  fruit  and  the  vege 
table. 

"Cap'n  Levi  would  call  this  'hahnsome  wea 
ther,'  "  remarked  Nathalie. 

"  Ain't  it  pleasant !  "  Miss  Priscilla  looked 
about  approvingly.  "  Miss  Betty  says  she  's  made 
herself  known  to  both  of  you ;  says  she  asked  you 
to  go  to  parade,  Nathalie,  but  you  did  n't  favor 
it.  Now,  Mr.  Gerard  would  be  real  glad  to  see 
you  again." 

"  Give  me  time  ;  give  me  time."  Nathalie  spoke 
lazily.  "  I  can't  do  everything  at  once.  Just  now 
I  feel  that  I  should  like  to  be  doomed  to  remain 
inside  these  grounds  for  a  month." 

"  I  guess  you  're  a  tired  girl ;  that 's  what  I 
guess.  Mr.  Andreas  is  comin'  to  stay  with  me 
awhile.  He 's  got  insurance  business  to  do  in 
Hampton,  and  Newport  News,  and  Norfolk,  and 
it  '11  be  real  convenient  for  him.  We  '11  have  a 
Pulpit  Point  reunion,  as  it  were,  with  your  ma 
and  Miss  Betty  thrown  in." 

"  What  an  attractive  creature  your  Miss  Betty 
is,"  remarked  Mrs.  Dexter. 

"Yes,  I  like  that  girl.  'T ain't  every  one  as 
young  as  she  is  that  would  know  how  to  carry  sail 
as  well  with  Mrs.  Archer."  Miss  Toothaker  low 
ered  her  voice,  as  though  wind  and  waves  might 
carry  it  inland.  "  That  girl 's  got  pluck  and  tact 


VACATION.  119 

with  the  best  of  'em ;  and  then  she 's  got  Mr. 
Gerard  close  by." 

Nathalie  smiled.  "  Had  Miss  Toothaker  been 
your  correspondent,  mother,  you  would  not  have 
remained  ignorant  of  Mr.  Gerard." 

"  You  know  we  thought  they  might  be  engaged," 
put  in  Priscilla.  "  Queer  if  they  ain't,  but  I  can't 
be  sure.  Well" —  Miss  Toothaker  sighed  and 
arose.  "  There  's  Junius  comin'  after  me  already. 
Come  in  in  a  few  minutes.  It 's  almost  dinner 
time." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    "BAPTIZE." 

"  MR.  GERARD  wished  to  be  remembered  to  you, 
Miss  Dexter,"  said  Betty  the  following  morning. 
"  He  regrets  that  his  duties  will  not  permit  him  to 
call  to-day,  but  he  is  watching  for  the  first  oppor 
tunity." 

The  Archers  and  Dexters  were  still  lingering  at 
the  breakfast-table  after  the  other  boarders  had 
dispersed. 

"From  what  I  understand,"  remarked  Mrs. 
Archer,  "  Miss  Dexter  is  here  for  rest,  and  will 
not  care  to  have  people  calling  upon  her." 

As  Nathalie  made  no  reply  to  this,  Mrs.  Dexter 
spoke  pleasantly :  — 

"  Oh,  I  am  glad  to  say  my  daughter  is  not  ill. 
I  am  sure  she  will  be  pleased  to  see  your  nephew 
again." 

"  Roger  is  not  my  nephew.  It  would  be  a  little 
difficult  to  say  what  he  is  to  me,"  —  Mrs.  Archer 
laughed  consciously,  —  "  except  that  he  is  very, 
very  dear.  He  is  my  husband's  ward.  Naturally 
he  and  Betty  have  always  stood  almost  together  in 
my  affections." 

Betty  just  glanced  at  the  speaker  with  the  inno- 


THE   "BAPTIZE."  121 

cent  eyes  which  had  learned  to  keep  their  owner's 
secrets. 

Her  memory  was  unfolding  a  panorama  of  scenes 
in  which  she  and  Roger  were  always  conspirators, 
engaged  in  escaping  or  foiling  the  unsympathetic 
wife  of  her  adored  father.  Mrs.  Archer  was  not 
the  cruel  stepmother  of  the  fairy  tales,  but  she  was 
indifferent  to  children,  and  had  never  sought  to 
gain  the  confidence  of  her  husband's  daughter. 
Betty  had  never  been  asked  to  call  her  "  Mother," 
and  had  never  done  so ;  but  the  sweet  wholesome- 
ness  of  the  girl's  temperament,  and  a  strong  and 
saving  sense  of  humor,  had  enabled  her  to  preserve 
an  unruffled  attitude  toward  Mrs.  Archer,  who 
complacently  assumed  all  credit  for  their  friendly 
relations. 

That  lady  had  heard  of  the  interest  which  Na 
thalie's  music  had  inspired  in  Gerard,  and  could 
not  deny  to  herself  the  attractions  of  this  Yankee 
girl.  Being  extremely  forehanded,  and  given  to 
preparing  for  war  in  time  of  peace,  she  succeeded 
now  in  catching  Nathalie's  eyes  with  a  full  gaze. 

"  Neither  Mr.  Archer  nor  I  was  ever  able  to  think 
of  Betty  without  immediately  thinking  of  Roger, 
nor  to  think  of  Roger  without  thinking  of  Betty." 

"Naturally,"  returned  Mrs.  Dexter,  with  her 
usual  manner  of  kindly  interest.  "  I  suppose  they 
grew  up  together  like  brother  and  sister." 

And  Betty,  who  had  felt  surprise  at  hearing 
Mrs.  Archer's  impressive  declaration,  smiled  at  her 
plate. 


122         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

The  next  day  was  Sunday.  Junius,  who  ap 
proved  of  Nathalie's  graceful  and  dignified  car 
riage,  and  the  poise  of  her  bronze-crowned  head, 
stepped  up  to  her  as  she  was  leaving  the  breakfast- 
room  :  — 

"  Goin'  to  be  a  baptize  in  the  creek  this 
mawnin',  Miss  Dexter,  yas  'm,"  he  said,  his  face 
beaming  from  between  the  points  of  his  amazing 
shirt-collar,  and  his  manner  more  airy  than  usual. 
"  I  thought  you  might  like  to  be  thar.  I  thought 
it  might  give  you  a  little  amusement.  Up  to 
Hampton  Bridge,  yas 'in." 

Nathalie  thanked  him,  and  soon  afterward,  while 
she  was  writing  a  letter,  seated  in  the  peach-tree 
bower,  she  heard  him  singing  at  his  dish-washing. 

Such  stentorian  and  sustained  tones  as  Junius 
was  capable  of  would  be  the  envy  and  despair  of 
the  average  student  of  singing,  groping  for  the 
secret  of  breath-support! 

"Naro,  my  God,  to  Thee, 
Naro  to  Thee," 

he  bawled,  until  Miss  Dexter  began  to  wonder 
laughingly  what  a  chorus  of  such  would  sound  like, 
and  realizing  the  present  impossibility  of  letter- 
writing,  she  determined  to  go  to  the  "  baptize." 

Hastening  into  the  house,  she  found  her  mother, 
and  proposed  the  trip. 

"  Let  us  get  Miss  Archer,"  responded  Mrs. 
Dexter  at  once. 


THE   "BAPTIZE."  123 

"  Let  us  not  get  Miss  Archer,"  returned  Natha 
lie  gayly.  "  Let  us  get  tired  of  each  other  first, 
mother.  I  ain  fairly  jeal  —  " 

She  had  been  going  to  declare  herself  jealous 
of  Betty,  but  for  some  reason  she  stopped  herself. 

"Oh,  you  may  admit  it,"  remarked  Mrs.  Dexter, 
as  she  put  on  her  bonnet.  "  You  have  seldom  had 
so  good  reason  to  be  jealous  of  any  one.  She  be 
witches  me.  How  many  girls  would  behave  as  well 
as  she  does  ?  Just  think  !  This  is  the  first  year  of 
having  the  privacy  of  her  home  invaded  by  any  one 
who  chooses  to  pay  the  price.  The  child  is  like 
a  dear  little  unostentatious  hostess  all  the  time." 

Nathalie's  cheeks  flushed.  "I  haven't  seen 
very  much  of  her,"  she  said. 

They  left  Edgewater  and  took  the  electric  car 
for  Hampton,  the  kindly  colored  people  with  whom 
it  was  filled  squeezing  up  to  make  room  for  them. 

Arrived  at  the  appointed  place,  they  found' the 
crowd  already  gathering.  From  all  directions 
streamed  the  concourse  of  men,  women,  and  chil 
dren.  Some  perched  on  the  edge  of  the  bridge, 
but  most  of  them  stood  patiently  on  the  bank  of 
the  creek,  while  a  large  gathering  of  various  craft 
assembled  on  the  water  near  the  scene  of  the  pro 
spective  baptism. 

The  sun  beamed  down  ardently,  and  it  was  tire 
some  to  stand  and  wait.  Not  even  the  curious 
variety  in  the  congregation  could  prevent  the  min 
utes  from  dragging. 


124  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Nathalie  found  a  vacant  space  on  a  log,  which 
she  insisted  that  her  mother  should  occupy,  but  the 
color  had  left  the  girl's  own  face. 

"  Let  me  walk  about  a  little.  It  will  tire  me 
less,"  said  her  mother.  "  Keep  this  seat  for  me  a 
few  minutes,  please." 

Mrs.  Dexter  made  her  way  through  the  crowd 
back  to  the  road,  and  scanned  the  surroundings  for 
some  point  of  vantage  where  she  and  Nathalie 
might  both  find  a  comfortable  spot  to  pass  the  time 
of  waiting,  and  yet  be  able  to  view  the  proceed 
ings.  It  was  a  hopeless  search.  Every  desirable 
spot  except  the  private  grounds  of  the  pretty  homes 
whose  lawns  ran  back  to  the  water's  edge  had  been 
preempted.  She  stood,  her  parasol  on  her  shoul 
der,  looking  about  in  a  somewhat  anxious  way, 
when  suddenly  a.  voice  accosted  her. 

"  Can  I  help  you,  madam  ?  "  She  turned  her 
head  and  saw  an  officer  in  artillery  uniform.  He 
held  his  cap  in  his  hand  as  he  spoke. 

"  I  'm  afraid  not,"  she  answered,  smiling.  "  My 
daughter  and  I  found  it  fatiguing  to  stand  down 
there  on  the  bank.  I  was  looking  for  a  possible 
seat,  but  there  is  n't  any.  I  will  go  back." 

"  No,  no,  wait,  please.  I  have  friends  in  this 
house,"  indicating  the  spacious  brick  residence  on 
their  left.  "  They  would  like  for  me  to  make  use 
of  their  veranda,  I  know.  If  you  will  bring  your 
daughter,  I  will  meet  you  at  their  gate  and  see  that 
you  are  comfortable." 


THE  "BAPTIZE."  125 

"  But  are  you  sure  "  — 

The  officer  met  the  doubt  with  the  smile  which 
had  won  Miss  Toothaker's  unyielding  affections. 

"  You  need  not  hesitate,  madam.  I  will  speak 
to  my  friends." 

Mrs.  Dexter  hurried  back  to  her  daughter. 
Later,  Nathalie  laughed  over  the  subdued  excite 
ment  of  her  mother's  manner. 

"  Come,  dear.  Come  quick !  "  she  said.  "  There 
is  a  gentleman  who  is  going  to  take  care  of  us." 

"  What 's  this  ?  "  asked  the  girl,  as  she  rose. 

"  The  most  fortunate  thing,"  explained  Mrs. 
Dexter,  as  they  forced  their  way  through  the  crowd. 
"  He  just  happened  to  come  along,  and  saw  that  I 
was  puzzled,  and  he  knows  the  people  in  that  house 
over  there,  and  we  are  going  up  on  the  piazza." 

"  Oh,  no  !  "  returned  Nathalie,  protesting  even  to 
the  extent  of  stopping  when  they  were  nearly  at 
the  gate.  "Truly,  you  won't  be  uncomfortable 
down  where  I  was,  and  this  is  so  queer  "  —  The 
erect  lieutenant  emerged  from  the  door  of  the 
house.  "  Such  an  intrusion !  "  went  on  the  girl. 
He  ran  down  the  steps.  "  I  don't  like  it !  " 

"  Why !  "  exclaimed  the  approaching  officer ; 
and  Mrs.  Dexter  saw  that  the  reassuring  smile  he 
had  given  her  was  nothing  to  the  radiance  which 
could  illumine  his  face. 

"  Why !  "  ejaculated  Nathalie  in  the  same  breath, 
all  her  pallor  fled.  And  then  they  were  clasping 
hands,  and  his  head  was  uncovered,  and  Mrs. 


126          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Dexter's  lips  were  parted  as  she  wondered  what  all 
this  might  mean. 

For  a  moment  Nathalie  seemed  tongue-tied.  The 
truth  is,  she  had  prepared  so  many  phrases  to  say 
to  him  when  they  should  first  meet,  that  now  they 
all  escaped  her  in  a  body. 

"  Well,  have  you  taken  care  of  them  ? "  he 
asked,  looking  down  at  the  hand  he  held. 

It  slipped  from  his. 

"Mother,  let  me  introduce  Mr.  Gerard." 

"Oh,  this  is  Mr.  Gerard,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter 
graciously. 

"  My  mother  has  heard  the  Archers  speak  of*  you 
so  much,"  explained  Nathalie  hastily.  "  What  a 
coincidence  this  is !  " 

"  Is  n't  it  ?  I  went  over  to  Edgewater,  thinking 
you  might  like  Jo  go  to  church,  and  there  Junius 
informed  me  where  you  had  gone.  There  is  no 
telling  when  or  whether  I  might  have  found  the 
needle  in  the  haymow,  had  my  good  angel  not 
prompted  your  mother  to  go  on  an  investigating 
expedition." 

"  Oh,  that  was  n't  your  good  angel,"  returned 
Nathalie  gayly.  "That  was  mother's.  She  has 
one  which  permits  of  no  rival." 

"  Perhaps  they  're  friends.  Don't  you  think  it 
quite  likely,  Mrs.  Dexter  ?  Now  if  you  will  come 
around  this  way.  The  nurse  has  put  some  chairs 
out  on  the  veranda  for  you,  and  I  shall  add  a  third, 
if  you  will  permit  me." 


THE  "BAPTIZE."  127 

They  were  soon  ensconced.  How  dramatic  the 
scene  had  grown  to  Nathalie's  changed  vision ! 
The  sea  of  dusky  faces  on  the  bank,  the  gently 
rocking  boats  at  anchor  in  the  waves,  now  formed 
a  significant  picture. 

The  minister  finally  appeared,  and,  staff  in  hand, 
his  gowned  form  waded  out  into  the  flood,  sinking 
deeper  and  deeper  in  the  sparkling  tide,  until  he 
had  found  the  requisite  spot,  where  he  planted  the 
staff. 

Then  began  a  procession  of  black-robed  men  and 
boys,  who  advanced  to  their  immersion  while  the 
crowd  on  the  shore  raised  a  hymn  of  praise. 

After  this  came  the  crowning  touch  of  the  pic 
turesque  ceremony.  A  larger  procession  of  women, 
their  dusky  faces  the  darker  for  the  costuming  of 
white  robes  and  turbans,  filed  to  the  bank.  Two 
of  the  dripping  men  conducted  between  them  the 
form  of  an  emotional  sister,  whose  immersion 
seemed  to  the  onlooker  suffocatingly  long. 

Upon  emerging  from  the  flood,  some  of  the  ex 
citable  creatures  wrung  their  hands,  shouting, 
"  I  'm  redeemed ! "  Others  broke  into  singing ; 
others  again  swayed  their  bodies  from  right  to  left 
with  groans  of  rapture,  during  the  whole  of  their 
laborious  transit  to  dry  land. 

The  Dexters  watched  it  all  with  the  rapt  inter 
est  of  novelty.  Mrs.  Dexter  held  her  breath  each 
time  a  turbaned  head  disappeared  beneath  the 
flowing  tide  in  the  deliberate  hands  of  the  clergy- 


128  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

man,  whose  sonorous  intonations  sounded  across 
the  water. 

Gerard,  looking  on  with  wonted  eyes,  received 
the  comments  of  his  companions  with  gentle  assent 
or  demur ;  but  never  once,  Mrs.  Dexter  observed, 
did  he  ridicule  any  feature  of  the  scene.  She  liked 
him  for  it.  Indeed,  it  inspired  her  with  a  sort  of 
dismay  to  see  how  easy  it  was  to  like  him  for  all 
his  obvious  characteristics,  —  those  not  only  for 
which  he  was  not  responsible,  but  such  superficial, 
acquired  ones  as  she  could  already  observe. 

Her  mother-heart  took  alarm,  and  she  began  in 
an  uncertain  way  to  put  two  and  two  together,  and 
to  send  her  thoughts,  or  rather  her  imagination,  on 
scouting  expeditions  into  that  past  summer,  which 
had  evidently  thrown  these  two  into  familiar  rela 
tions.  And  she  had  insisted  on  coming  to  Edge- 
water  in  spite  of  Nathalie's  reluctance ! 

"Would  you  like  to  do  it,  Mrs.  Dexter?" 
Gerard's  eyes  were  interrogating  her. 

The  crowds  on  the  bank  were  dispersing.  Her 
far-away  look  drew  a  laugh  from  Nathalie. 

"I  don't  think  mother  has  caught  her  breath 
comfortably  yet,  after  all  the  sympathetic  gasps  she 
has  been  giving." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Dexter. 

"  I  have  been  telling  Mr.  Gerard  that  I  want  to 
go  to  a  colored  church,  and  he  says  he  will  take  us 
where  he  knows  one  of  the  teachers  in  the  Sunday- 
school.  Would  n't  you  like  to  go  ?  " 


THE  "BAPTIZE:'  129 

"  This  woman  used  to  be  a  plantation  hand," 
explained  Gerard  as  they  neared  the  church,  "  but 
she  is  simply  a  genius  as  a  teacher.  She  does  occa 
sional  work  at  Edgewater,  and  Miss  Archer  is 
interested  in  her.  She  took  me  to  visit  this  class 
of  '  Mis'  Jackson '  once  lately,  and  I  don't  know  of 
anything  more  original  to  show  you." 

The  regular  service  of  the  little  church  was  very 
brief  that  morning,  owing  to  the  "  baptize,"  as  the 
sexton  explained,  and  very  soon  the  Sunday-school 
assembled. 

Mrs.  Jackson  recognized  the  lieutenant  with  an 
expansive  smile  and  a  delighted  bow,  and  cordially 
welcomed  the  ladies,  whom  he  introduced  to  her  as 
visitors  to  her  class. 

"  I  does  have  right  smaht  of  a  class  mos'  days, 
Mist'  Gerard  knows,"  she  declared,  blinking  be 
hind  her  spectacles,  "  but  I  don't  guess  I  will  this 
mawnin',  'long  o'  the  baptize.  Kind  o'  breaks  'em 
up,  ye  know." 

Nathalie  thought  it  well  worth  while  to  have 
come  here,  if  it  were  only  to  meet  Mrs.  Jackson. 
The  teacher  was  a  heavy-lipped  African,  as  nearly 
black  as  could  be  found.  Her  costume  was  a 
scarlet  flannel  gown  with  skin-tight  sleeves,  over  a 
petticoat  of  mazarine  blue,  which  was  visible  be 
low  it  all  around,  and  she  wore  a  turban  hat  which 
rivaled  the  red-bird's  .wing. 

In  spite  of  Mrs.  Jackson's  fears,  about  a  dozen 
little  pickaninnies  appeared  after  the  general  exer 
cises  of  the  school  to  receive  her  instruction. 


130  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

She  beamed  upon  them  proudly.  "  This  wuz 
the  banner  class  up  till  two  months  ago,"  she  re 
marked,  turning  to  her  guests,  who  were  decorously 
seated  at  her  right,  "but  then  we  done  lost  de 
banner,  and  it 's  puffic'ly  rediklus,  but  we  hain't 
ever  ben  able  to  git  it  back." 

"What  decides  who  shall  have  the  banner?" 
asked  Mrs.  Dexter. 

"  It 's  jes'  the  number  o'  pennies  the  chillen  kin 
bring,"  explained  the  teacher. 

Mrs.  Dexter's  lips  twitched  over  the  materiality 
of  this  arrangement,  and  her  gaze  strayed  along  the 
row  of  strangely  dressed  little  darkies,  with  their 
rolling  glances  and  woolly  heads.  In  jackets  made 
of  old  bed-blankets,  or  frocks  of  faded  calico,  and 
odd  head-gear,  they  sat  there  in  a  motley  pictur 
esque  row,  the  short,  tight  braids  standing  out 
stiffly  all  over  their  heads,  and  their  solemn,  shift 
ing  stares  fixed  upon  the  lieutenant's  red  and  gold, 
or  the  pretty  costumes  of  the  ladies. 

But  soon  there  was  no  idle  time  for  worldly  con 
siderations  of  either  army  or  civil  life.  Mrs.  Jack 
son  took  up  her  Testament,  and  supplied  each  of 
the  older  children  with  one. 

"  Who  kin  tell  me  the  Golden  Tex'  fo'  to-day  ?  " 
she  inquired. 

No  one  answered,  but  every  pair  of  round  eyes 
was  instantly  fixed  upon  her  in  an  unblinking 
stare. 

"  All  right !     Then  we  've  got  to  learn  it  now. 


THE  "BAPTIZE."  131 

Come  on !  '  Bless'd  are  the  merc'ful,  fo'  they 
shall  'btain  mercy.'  All  together  now,  —  come  on  ! 
'  Bless'd  are  the  merc'ful,'  —  ye  ain't  dumb,  are 
ye  ?  Say  it  with  me,  now.  '  Bless'd  are  the 
merc'M'"  — 

Mrs.  Jackson  had  laid  down  her  book  and  risen 
from  her  chair,  and  was  hovering  over  the  children 
with  outstretched,  waving  hands,  like  an  enormous 
tropical  bird.  Her  pupils  sat  on  the  very  edge  of 
their  seats,  their  braids  electrically  erect,  and  gazed 
up  into  the  round  spectacles  that  moved  from  one 
face  to  another  as  the  teacher  exhorted  and  coaxed 
and  repeated  by  turns,  frowning  at  a  delinquent, 
and  smiling  with  admiring  pointing  finger  at  some 
bold  and  successful  spirit  who,  galvanized  into 
speech,  loudly  proclaimed  the  text. 

Whenever  she  perceived  the  flagging  of  the  chil 
dren's  interest,  with  perfect  tact  she  veered  off  sud 
denly  upon  Moses  in  the  bulrushes,  or  one  of  the 
Commandments,  until  she  recognized  the  proper 
moment  to  return  to  the  main  object  of  the  lesson. 

Finally,  in  the  general  excitement,  it  was  dis 
covered  that  the  teacher  herself  had  forgotten  the 
precise  wording  of  the  text,  but,  turning  for  her 
Testament,  she  found  that  it  was  closed  and  the 
place  lost. 

After  an  instant's  futile  search,  she  stretched 
out  her  quick,  heavy  hand  toward  the  largest  girl. 
"  Here,  yo  Rena.  I  ain't  got  time  to  fool.  Gimme 
yo'  Bible,  Yo  Gunnavere,  take  that  gum  out  yo' 


132  MfSS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

mouth,  an'  don't  yo  put  it  back  again.  '  Bless'd 
are  the  inerc'f  ul,'  —  now,  then,  come  on  !  Yo  goin' 
to  sleep  there?  Wake  up  yo'  brains  an'  go  into 
it !  —  '/o'  they  shall  'btain  mercy ' !  " 

By  this  time  Nathalie,  too,  was  on  the  edge  of 
her  chair.  There  was  no  cessation  of  the  camp- 
meeting  whirl  in  which  "  Mis'  Jackson  "  kept  her 
flock  until  the  bell  sounded  for  closing,  when,  in 
stantly  hushing,  she  turned  to  her  guests  with  the 
calm,  expansive  smile  which  seemed  to  indicate  an 
absolute  freshness  and  willingness  to  begin  over 
again. 

And  that  smile  crept  around  the  class  when  the 
three  guests,  constituting  themselves  pupils  pro 
tern.,  augmented  the  class  fund  to  such  an  extent 
that,  amid  a  satisfied  display  of  ivories,  Guine 
vere  marched  across  the  Sunday-school  room,  and 
brought  back  the  silken  banner  to  its  old  home 
with  "  Mis'  Jackson." 


CHAPTER  X. 

FORTRESS    MONROE. 

NATHALIE'S  behavior  on  the  way  home  from 
church,  and  throughout  the  dinner  that  followed, 
was  so  much  more  like  that  of  her  old  light-hearted 
self  than  Mrs.  Dexter  had  seen  since  her  home 
coming,  ±hat  the  mother  put  aside  her  vague  sus 
picions  with  relief. 

Gerard  stayed  to  dinner,  and  Mrs.  Archer's 
sharp  eyes  glanced  many  times  from  him  to  Na 
thalie,  and  thence  to  Betty,  as  if  exhorting  the  latter 
to  observe  the  degree  of  friendship  which  existed 
between  these  two. 

Nathalie's  cheeks  were  pink,  and  she  talked 
more  than  usual,  striving  from  time  to  time  to 
bring  Betty  into  the  conversation  ;  but  it  was  Miss 
Archer's  turn  to  be  monosyllabic.  Her  direct 
glance  and  slight,  amused  smile  were  as  spontane 
ously  attentive  as  ever,  but  she  permitted  Nathalie 
to  absorb  the  lieutenant. 

After  dinner  Miss  Dexter  yielded  to  persuasion, 
and  played  the  piano  for  half  an  hour. 

"  You  don't  know  what  those  things  bring  back 
to  me,"  said  Roger,  while  Betty,  with  sparkling 
eyes,  stood  close  to  the  piano  in  her  enthusiasm. 


134          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Gerard  went  on  to  describe  to  the  Archers  his 
dolcefar  niente  season  beside  the  granite  boulder  ; 
and  Mrs.  Archer  listened  with  set  thin  lips. 

Nathalie  excused  herself  at  last  to  write  letters. 
Her  heart  beat  fast  as  she  took  her  bright  leave 
of  the  group,  and  a  look  of  excited  triumph  was  on 
her  face  when  her  mother  followed  her  into  their 
room. 

"  I  could  n't  tell  you  before  all  those  people  how 
I  enjoyed  your  music,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter  fondly. 
"  What  good  work  you  have  done  in  the  last  year ! 
And  what  a  rapt  audience  you  had  !  It  was  a  sat 
isfaction  to  watch  Mr.  Gerard  and  Miss  Archer. 
Those  two  young  people  are  perhaps  as  congenial 
in  their  tastes  as  Mrs.  Archer  wishes  them  to  be. 
No  wonder  she  likes  the  idea  of  having  him  for  a 
son-in-law !  Are  they  really  engaged  ?  " 

"  Don't  ask  me.  I  really  know  Mr.  Gerard 
very  little." 

"  Indeed  ?  I  judged  from  your  sprightly  table- 
talk  that  you  had  seen  considerable  of  each  other." 

"  No."  Nathalie  smiled  at  herself  oddly  in  the 
glass,  where  her  bright  eyes  confronted  her. 
"There  was  always  a  granite  wall  between  us. 
You  just  heard  him  say  so." 

Meanwhile  Betty  was  bidding  Koger  good-by 
at  the  gate. 

"  I  envy  you  living  in  the  house  with  that 
music,"  he  said. 

"  You   need  n't.      I  probably  shan't   hear   any 


FORTRESS   MONROE.  135 

more  till  you  come  again.  Yo'  Miss  Dexter  is  as 
different  from  mine  as  can  possibly  be  imagined." 

"  She  probably  needs  time  to  become  ac 
quainted,"  returned  Gerard. 

"  No,"  laughed  Betty  quietly ;  "  she  needs  the 
chamois  leather,  just  as  I  thought.  You  need  n't 
look  martial.  It  's  a  matter  of  temperament. 
You  know  there  are  men's  women  and  women's 
women." 

"  I  don't  like  for  you  to  try  to  be  cynical, 
Betty." 

"Oh,.  I'm  not  cynical,"  she  answered  equably, 
"  only  I  've  noticed  so  many  things  since  I  was 
bo'n." 

"  I  've  taken  you  too  often  to  the  Hygeia." 

"  Yes,  I  've  learned  some  things  there.  Then 
you  know  it 's  very  educating  to  live  with  Mrs. 
Archer." 

"  Oh,  Betty  !  Keep  the  circle  drawn  about  your 
white  self,"  rejoined  Gerard  warmly.  "  Keep 
those  eyes  as  clear  as  they  are  now.  Notice  some 
things  only  to  reject  them,  just  as  you  always 
have.  It  seems  you  are  n't  infallibly  keen-sighted. 
You  are  n't  right  about  Miss  Dexter,  for  in 
stance." 

Miss  Archer  made  a  mock  courtesy.  "  We  all 
know  men  are  infallible  where  reading  a  girl  is 
concerned." 

"  I  like  to  see  a  woman  stand  up  for  her  own 
sex,"  remarked  Gerard. 


136          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Does  any  one  accuse  me  of  not  doing  that  ?  " 
A  rare  color  showed  in  Miss  Archer's  cheeks. 
"I  didn't  know  this  was  a  personal  matter  with 
you,  Roger.  I  supposed  I  could  indulge  in  a  little 
character-study  with  you,  who  are  near  to  me  as  a 
brother,  without  harming  any  one." 

"  Hush,  dear !  hush ! "  he  said,  taking  her  hand. 
"  There  is  no  shadow  to  be  allowed  to  creep  in 
between  us.  You  know  you  would  not  allow  any 
one  to  say  of  me  that  I  was  a  woman's  man." 

"  You  —  you  are  a  Virginian  gentleman,"  said 
Betty  proudly. 

"  And  you  are  a  Virginian  gentlewoman,"  re 
turned  Roger  with  a  laugh.  "  Now  honors  are 
easy,  and  I  had  better  go.  Let  me  prophesy, 
though,  that  before  a  fortnight  is  out,  you  will 
admit  to  me  that  Miss  Dexter  is  a  woman's 
woman,  and  of  a  rare  sort." 

Betty's  lips  drew  together,  and  her  eyes  were 
solemn  in  their  gaze.  "  She  will  never  be  mine  if 
she  comes  between  you  and  me,  Roger.  I  wonder 
if  you  ever  stop  to  realize,  as  I  often  do,  that  you 
are  all  I  have  in  this  wide,  wide  world  !  " 

He  returned  her  look  with  a  steady,  affectionate 
gaze.  "  Don't  you  know  that  I  can't  imagine  life 
without  you  ?  "  he  answered. 

"  It  is  still  so,  is  it  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  It  is  still  so,  Betty.  Why  should  not  some 
thing  come  of  it  ?  " 

"  Something   does   come   of  it,"    she   answered, 


FORTRESS   MONROE.  137 

smiling  at  him  with  such  sweetness  in  lips  and  eyes 
as  seldom  shone  through  the  demureness  of  her  ex 
pression.  "  All  the  content  of  my  life  comes  of  it." 

"  Yet  you  don't  want  to  marry  me,  dear  ?  "  he 
asked  gently. 

"  I  don't  want  any  one  else  to,"  she  said  seri 
ously. 

He  laughed  a  little.  "  Then  perhaps  you  're 
coming  on.  Good-by,  I  must  go." 

He  lifted  his  cap  and  hurried  away. 

Miss  Dexter's  window  overlooked  the  gate. 
She  sat  .beside  it,  her  letter-paper  before  her  ;  but 
it  was  a  virgin  sheet. 

The  following  week  Nathalie  and  her  mother 
devoted  to  sight-seeing.  They  visited  Hampton 
Institute,  set  with  all  its  wealth  of  happy  work 
and  usefulness  in  a  very  garden-spot  of  earth; 
then  they  went  to  the  Whittier  School,  where  the 
singing  of  hundreds  of  little  colored  children  took 
close  hold  on  Nathalie's  heart. 

"  How  old  are  you,  dear  ?  "  she  asked  one  mite. 

"  I  'm  thix.  I  uthed  to  be  five,"  answered  the 
big-eyed  cherub  in  the  flapping  misfit  shoes,  which 
sorely  handicapped  an  effort  at  skipping  in  the 
kindergarten  games. 

There  were  so  many  infants  who  had  not  yet 
outlived  being  five,  and  even  four,  and  whose  ward 
robes  were  grotesque,  that  the  Dexters  wished  a 
realizing  sense  of  this  school  could  be  conveyed 
to  the  North. 


138          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  The  children  seem  to  enjoy  everything  so 
much,"  observed  Mrs.  Dexter  to  a  teacher  in  one 
of  the  sunny,  spacious  rooms. 

"  Yes,"  she  replied  ;  "  it  is  great  happiness  to 
them.  When  our  first  building  burned,  the  vicin 
ity  became  crowded  with  mourning  children  and 
their  parents.  One  woman  told  me  the  day  after 
the  fire  that  she  had  had  no  end  of  trouble  with 
her  little  ones.  She  declared  she  had  had  to  '  be 
up  all  night  spankin'  the  chillen  to  keep  'em  from 
cryin' ' ! " 

The  teacher  went  on  to  explain  how,  owing  to 
the  shiftlessness  as  well  as  poverty  of  the  parents, 
the  children  were  illy  fed,  even  to  an  extent  which 
led  to  many  a  fainting  little  one's  falling  down  in 
the  ranks  during  the  school  exercises. 

"  The  peppermint  bottle  does  poor  service  in 
the  case  of  that  sort  of  cramps,"  said  the  patient 
teacher,  smiling. 

After  this  talk,  when  all  the  children  gathered 
in  the  pleasant  hall  to  sing,  their  voices  gained 
additional  pathos  to  the  hearers'  ears. 

The  pupils  stood  in  close  lines,  and  sang  from 
memory.  One  little  fellow  who  stood  directly  in 
front  of  Nathalie  especially  interested  her.  Large 
patches  of  brown  skin  showed  through  his  stockings, 
his  ragged  trousers  were  held  on  by  a  bit  of  twine, 
and  his  corduroy  jacket  literally  hung  in  ribbons 
from  his  shoulders.  His  large  head  swayed  to  one 
side  in  a  sad  fashion,  and  he  lisped  hopelessly. 


FORTRESS   MONROE.  139 

"  Who  f  wallowed  Jonah  ?  "  he  sang  with  the 
others. 

"  Whale  did  f  wallow  Jonah  whole  !  " 

Nathalie  swallowed,  too,  with  the  clear,  soaring 
strains  in  her  ears. 

She  behaved  very  well  until  the  sweet  cadence 
of  another  hymn  began ;  but  when  the  child  before 
her,  with  downcast  eyes,  sang  :  — 

"Nobody  knows  de  trouble  I  see, 
Nobody  knows  but  Jesus," 

her  wroiight-up  imagination  overcame  her  self-con 
trol,  and  she  precipitately  left  the  room. 

"  Yo'  mother  says  you  found  a  sorrowful  side  to 
the  Whittier  School,"  remarked  Betty  Archer  that 
afternoon,  as  she  joined  Miss  Dexter  on  the  rustic 
seat  under  one  of  the  great  trees. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  rather  disgraced  myself."  Nathalie 
gave  her  skirts  a  welcoming  push  to  make  more 
room  for  the  newcomer.  "  We  waited,  though, 
until  I  could  find  out  where  my  little  boy  lived. 
His  big  sister  finally  informed  me,  although  she 
was  almost  discouraged  in  the  effort  when  she 
found  I  was  so  ignorant  as  not  to  know  where 
'  Barnes's  Bar '  was.  I  could  only  discover  that 
my  little  boy  lived  near  this  saloon,  and  mother 
and  I  set  out  upon  a  pious  pilgrimage  on  foot  to 
find  it.  The  affectionate  persistence  with  which 
we  inquired  for  Barnes's  Bar  must  make  the  Hamp 
ton  loafers  believe  that  at  least  two  women  in  this 
place  need  the  Keeley  cure  badly  !  " 


140  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Did  you  find  the  house  at  last  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,  and  our  visit  quite  relieved  my  mind. 
Another  comfort  is  that  I  believe  I  can  make  my 
friends  at  home  take  an  interest  in  the  school." 

"  If  you  knew  how  cheap  co'n  is  here,  you 
would  be  out  of  all  patience  with  such  need  as  you 
speak  of." 

"  Yes ;  but  the  children  are  n't  to  blame  for  the 
parents'  shiftlessness ;  and  they  are  not  to  blame 
for  the  saloons.  How  the  streets  bristle  with 
them!  In  this  lovely,  lovely  part  of  the  world, 
too!" 

"Yes;  you  see  there  are  the  soldiers  from  the 
fort  to  support  the  saloons,  and  then  the  Old  Sol 
diers'  Home,  —  though  they  have  their  own  saloon, 
run  by  an  officer  of  the  institution.  That  regu 
lates  the  drinking  somewhat  there,  and  a  great 
deal  of  money  is  taken  in,  —  enough  to  pay  for  all 
the  old  soldiers'  amusements,  such  as  the  plays 
that  are  given  there,  and  their  temperance  lectures, 
and"- 

Nathalie's  laugh  interrupted  the  enumeration. 

Betty  smiled  appreciatively.  Each  of  the  girls 
had  intended  to  maintain  a  cautious  and  non-com 
mittal  attitude  toward  the  other,  but  Nathalie's 
genuine  new  interest  had  lifted  her  out  of  a  per 
sonal  rut,  and  her  novel  geniality  at  once  disarmed 
the  gracious  Southern,  girl. 

"  I  seem  to  do  service  as  chamois  leather  maself 
to-day,"  thought  Betty. 


FORTRESS   MONROE.  141 

She  renewed  her  invitation  to  attend  parade, 
and  Nathalie  accepted  it.  Mrs.  Archer,  when  she 
heard  of  the  plan,  decided  to  chaperon  the  girls, 
and  Mrs.  Dexter  was  glad  to  support  her  in  this 
pleasant  duty. 

The  easy  refinement  and  innate  kindness  of  Mrs. 
Dexter's  manner  had  won  Mrs.  Archer's  reluctant 
approval. 

"  Mrs.  Dexter  is  a  gentlewoman,  whatever  her 
daughter  may  be,"  she  remarked  oracularly  to 
Betty.  "  She  is  n't  like  the  usual  bores  who  have 
infested  Edgewater  since  the  autumn.  She  is 
really  very  agreeable." 

And  having  settled  the  status  of  her  new  ac 
quaintance,  Mrs.  Archer  proceeded  to  patronize 
her,  and  enlighten  her  dense  ignorance  concerning 
the  characteristics  and  movements  of  some  of  Phil 
adelphia's  best  families,  with  an  affability  which 
Mrs.  Dexter  received  with  courteous  submission. 

Nathalie  sighed  rebelliously  this  afternoon  as 
the  four  skimmed  in  the  electric  car  across  the 
bridge  to  Old  Point,  to  observe  the  animated  chat 
ter  which  Mrs.  Archer  continued  to  pour  into  her 
mother's  ear. 

They  sought  the  pavilion  in  front  of  the  Hygeia, 
and  there  Nathalie  adroitly  managed  to  slip  into  a 
seat  between  Mrs.  Dexter  and  her  lively  bureau  of 
information.  The  present  was  too  exhilarating  to 
make  digging  into  the  musty  past  endurable. 

The  White  Squadron  added  majesty  to  the  wide 


142          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

sweep  of  Hampton  Roads  ;  the  waves  broke  noisily 
against  piers  and  foamed  upon  the  sands.  The 
bright,  soft  wind  shook  out  the  folds  of  flags. 
The  uniforms  of  army  and  naval  officers  enlivened 
the  long  promenade  before  the  hotel.  The  gay 
strains  of  a  band  on  one  of  the  battleships  pro 
claimed  that  dainty  feet  were  tripping  about  among 
its  grim  steel  guns.  All  was  life,  motion,  color. 

Mrs.  Archer  viewed  the  glowing  interest  of  Na 
thalie's  face  and  heard  her  comments  with  disap 
proval.  It  was  distressingly  provincial  to  show  so 
much  pleasure :  and  she  had  been  just  about  to 
tell  Mrs  Dexter  about  Mrs.  Bartholomew  Baum- 
garten's  reckless  second  marriage. 

"Three  cheers  for  the  red,  white,  and  blue 
seems  to  be  in  the  very  air,  does  n't  it  ?  "  said  Na 
thalie.  "  There  should  be  a  few  eagles  screaming 
over  the  parapet  of  the  fort  yonder." 

"  Oh,  we  're  nothing  if  not  patriotic  down  here," 
returned  Betty.  "  Even  the  very  crabs  would 
scorn  to  be  disloyal.  Have  you  noticed  ?  " 

She  indicated  the  walk  just  outside  the  water- 
bound  pavilion  where  they  were.  A  little  group 
of  people  were  engaged  there  in  catching  crabs. 
The  shellfish  would  attack  the  lump  of  meat  at 
the  end  of  a  string,  and  then  find  themselves 
snapped  out  of  the  water  upon  the  sunny  boards, 
where  they  wildly  waved  their  brilliant  red,  white, 
and  blue  arms  in  comical  conformity  to  their  en 
vironment. 


FORTRESS   MONROE.  143 

"  I  want  to  take  you  up  on  the  parapet  before 
parade,"  said  Betty,  "  so  I  think  we  had  better 

go-" 

They  sauntered  on  toward  the  hotel,  and  as  they 
turned  east  on  the  board  walk,  Nathalie  could  hear 
fragments  behind  her  of  the  resumed  history  of 
the  Bartholomew  Baumgartens. 

Entering  the  fort,  the  quartette  wandered  on 
beside  the  cannon,  which  stand  like  horses  in  their 
arched  stables  along  the  outside  of  the  quiet  moat, 
each  gun  trained  upon  the  waters  of  Chesapeake 
Bay.  Mounting  an  inclined  plane  which  led  to 
the  summit  of  the  earthworks,  the  party  walked 
along  the  rampart,  high  above  the  rolling  expanse 
of  water. 

Out  toward  the  open  ocean,  far  as  eye  could 
reach,  the  ships  were  coming  and  going.  The 
waves  were  breaking  high  on  the  deserted,  crum 
bling  fort,  known  as  "The  Rip  Raps."  The  air 
was  balmy.  Nathalie  stood  still  to  view  the  marine 
picture,  and  the  others  stopped  perforce. 

"  We  might  as  well  walk  along,"  suggested  Mrs. 
Archer  curtly.  She  feared  the  girl  was  going  to 
rob  her  again  of  her  companion's  attention. 

"  Yes,  I  think  we  might  as  well,  too,"  observed 
a  masculine  voice. 

"  Mr.  Andreas  !  "  ejaculated  Nathalie,  wheeling 
about. 

Gerard  was  accompanying  his  newly  arrived 
friend,  and  there  was  a  good  deal  of  laughter  and 


144          MfSS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

hand-shaking,  and  Russell  was  presented  to  Mrs. 
Dexter  and  beamed  upon  solicitously  by  Mrs. 
Archer  before  he  found  himself  moving  along 
beside  Betty  in  the  little  procession. 

"  At  last,  Miss  Archer  Archer,  we  meet  again. 
Kindly  admit  that  it  seems  long  since  I  called  on 
you  in  the  winter  !  " 

"When  you  called  on  Miss  Toothaker,  you 
mean." 

"  What  a  pity  that  blessed  woman  never 
changed  that  excruciating  name ! "  remarked  An 
dreas.  "  Well,  how  goes  art  ?  All  those  fetching- 
little  hearts  and  darts  and  cherubs  and  things  that 
you  do?  Miss  Pris  showed  me  some  of  your 
pretty  cards.  Call  that  work,  do  you?  Ah," 
sighing,  "  if  you  were  only  in  the  insurance  busi 
ness." 

"  It  seems  to  be  a  nice,  malleable  sort  of  a  busi 
ness,  —  takes  you  No'th  in  summer  and  South  in 
winter  in  what  looks  to  the  uninitiated  like  a 
mighty  obliging  way." 

"  Oh,  well,"  turning  out  his  hands  in  a  gesture 
of  assent,  "  of  course  if  you  're  not  glad  to  see 
me"- 

"  Well,  what  then  ?  " 

"  Why,"  cheerfully,  "  I  can  drown  myself. 
There  's  plenty  of  water  about." 

"  Don't  drown  yourself  till  you  've  seen  Edge- 
water  in  the  spring.  Ask  Miss  Dexter." 

"  See  Edgewater  and  die  is  her  motto  —  eh  ?  " 


FORTRESS   MONROE.  145 

"  Are  n't  you  surprised  to  find  the  Dexters  here?  " 

"  Should  have  been  stunned,  only  Gerard  mer 
cifully  prepared  me." 

"  Miss  Dexter  is  a  great  friend  of  yo's,  is  n't 
she?" 

"  Well,  I  hope  so.  Of  course,  I  'm  not  in  it 
with  Gerard.  I  like  music,  upon  my  word  I  do : 
something  you  can  feel  the  time  to,  you  know ;  but 
I  can't  look  soulful  and  entranced  over  a  jumble 
of  runs  and  jumps,  the  way  he  can,  and  she  's  all 
wrapped  up  in  that  sort  of  thing.  Besides,"  smil 
ing  with  quick  significance  into  his  companion's 
eyes,  "she  has  never  rescued  me,  you  know." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Did  n't  he  tell  you  ?  Then,  by  the  jolly  jump 
ing  John  Rogers,  I  must  n't !  " 

"  But,"  imperiously,  "  you  must,  I  assure  you." 

"  My  dear  Miss  Betty  !  —  say,  you  don't  care  if 
I  call  you  my  dear  Miss  Betty,  do  you?  My 
mother  said  I  might,  —  you  don't  know  what  you 
ask." 

"  Very  well,"  frigidly.     "  I  '11  ask  Roger." 

"  Heavens  !  I  hate  to  get  grass-stains  on  these 
ducks,  but  I  '11  go  down  on  my  knees  if  you  say  so 
—  plump  !  Dear,  good,  kind  Miss  Archer  Archer, 
don't  give  me  away  !  " 

"  But  Roger  never  kept  a  secret  from  me  befo'. 
It  makes  a  lump  come  right  up  in  my  throat." 

"  Swallow  it ;  swallow  it.  It  was  nothing, — the 
merest  trifle.  A  little  breach  of  the  convenances, 


146  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

—  a  mere  nothing;  but  you  know  Roger.  His 
sense  of  chivalry  would  force  him  to  have  me 
court-martialed,  imprisoned.  I  don't  believe  you 
can  look  into  my  trustful  eyes  and  have  the  heart 
to  blight  my  young  life.  It  isn't  even  insured. 
Shoemakers'  children,  you  know,  go  barefoot." 

"  A  breach  of  the  convenances  —  chivalry  ?  See 
here,  Mr.  Andreas,  I  really  can't  stand  it." 

"  Do  you  know  what  I  said  to  myself  when  I 
first  saw  you  ?  "  impressively.  "  I  said  to  myself  : 
'  Now,  there  is  a  girl  who  must  have  had  some  an 
cestress  other  than  Eve.  She  has  no  curiosity,  — 
absolutely  none.' ' 

"  See  here  ! "  called  Gerard  after  the  engrossed 
pair.  "Are  you  going  all  the  way  around  the 
fort  ?  Come  down." 

"  Ah,  that  voice  !  "  shuddered  Andreas  dramat 
ically.  "I  give  you  my  unvarnished  word  as  an 
insurance  man  that  I  'm  in  a  cold  perspiration. 
Stand  by  me  now,  Miss  Betty,  and  I  '11  never 
forget.it." 

"  I  'm  too  proud  to  ask  either  of  them,"  said 
the  girl,  as  they  turned  and  followed  the  others 
down  the  bank. 

Russell  took  off  his  hat  and  mopped  his  brow. 
"In  that  case  I  'm  saved  !  "  he  ejaculated. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

IN   THE    STUDIO. 

RETREAT  had  sounded  in  the  hush  that  precedes 
the  resounding  cannon,  and  the  band  was  now  giv 
ing  forth  the  strains  of  the  "  Star-Spangled  Ban 
ner."  The  ranks  of  artillery-men  stood  waiting 
for  the.  final  drill, — long,  brilliant  lines  of  red- 
decked  figures  on  the  wide  parade  ground  guarded 
by  its  live-oaks. 

Mrs.  Archer  cast  withering  glances  at  certain 
women  who  had  risen  to  their  feet,  obstructing  her 
view. 

"  Deliver  us  from  these  ostentatious  patriots  who 
chatter  all  through  parade  when  you  want  to  listen 
to  the  officers,  and  then  rise  for  the  '  Star-Span 
gled  Banner '  and  get  in  the  way  when  you  want 
to  see  the  parade  ground  !  "  she  ejaculated. 

"  Yes,  indeed  !  "  agreed  Nathalie,  who  was  view 
ing  her  first  military  pageant,  and  was  naturally 
impressed  thereby. 

"  Mrs.  Archer  nevejr  grows  tired  of  parade,"  re 
marked  Betty.  "  She  sco'ns  the  side-glances  one 
obtains  from  the  quarters.  Nothing  satisfies  her 
but  a  seat  directly  facing  the  clock  on  the  bar 
racks." 


148         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"Excellent  taste,"  said  Nathalie,  giving  Mrs. 
Archer  her  first  approving  look. 

That  lady  seemed  to  consider  herself  accused  of 
weakness,  and  bridled  virtuously. 

"I  should  assume  an  interest  if  I  had  it  not, 
for  Roger's  sake." 

The  young  officer  soon  appeared,  and  the  party 
rose  to  make  their  adieux  to  him. 

"  Give  my  respects  to  Miss  Pris,"  said  Andreas, 
turning  to  Betty. 

"  Then  she  is  n't  expecting  you  this  evening  ?  " 

"  No,  I  believe  there  is  n't  room  for  me  yet. 
I'll  stay  with  Gerard  to-night,  and  run  over  to 
morrow  to  see  how  the  land  lies.  And  remember, 
Miss  Archer  Archer,  to  remain  a  proud  lady !  " 

"  I  think  yo  're  putting  on  a  great  deal  of 
unnecessary  anxiety.  I  think  yo  're  doing  it  on 
purpose  to  rouse  ma  curiosity." 

Andreas  made  a  gesture  of  dissent,  and  his 
expressive  eyes  spoke  his  comic  yet  real  dismay. 

"  Indeed  I  'm  not,  I  assure  you." 

"  It  is  so  small  to  have  secrets,"  said  Miss 
Archer  loftily. 

"  Still  smaller  to  try  to  discover  them,  remem 
ber." 

"Good-by,  Roger."  Betty  intended  the  lieu 
tenant  to  feel  the  coldness  in  her  tone  as  she  turned 
to  him  ;  and  he  did  observe  it. 

He  walked  along  beside  her  as  the  party  moved 
toward  the  postern  entrance  to  the  Fort. 


IN   THE   STUDIO.  149 

"  The  Dexters  want  to  go  to  Newport  News  and 
to  Norfolk,"  he  said. 

"  Indeed  ?  " 

"  Yes.     Can't  we  take  them  together  ?  " 

"  The  same  day  ?  "  asked  Miss  Archer. 

Gerard  smiled  down  at  her.  "  What  are  you 
making  difficulties  for  ?  There  are  enough  days, 
are  n't  there  ?  " 

"  Not  for  me.  I  have  work  to  do.  I  'm  not 
an  army  officer  with  nothing  to  kill  but  time." 

"  Hello  !  hello  !  "  murmured  the  lieutenant,  in 
surprise-  more  at  her  manner  than  her  words. 
"  What  has  happened,  Betty,  since  we  last  met  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Andreas  has  come." 

"  Well,  he  has  n't  made  such  a  hit  with  you  that 
you  can't  be  civil  to  me  any  more,  has  he?" 
Gerard  smiled  as  he  asked  it. 

Mortified  color  swept  to  Betty's  cheeks  at  his 
jocose  tone.  "  You  would  n't  care  if  he  had,"  she 
exclaimed.  "  You  can  laugh!  " 

"  What  nonsense,  dear !  Is  n't  it  because  we 
are  sure  of  each  other?"  and  as  they  all  just 
now  entered  the  vault-like  passageway  beneath  the 
parapet,  the  lieutenant  utilized  the  darkness  to 
press  the  hand  that  hung  at  her  side. 

She  withdrew  it. 

"  What  has  come  to  you,  Betty  ?  Tell  me, 
child." 

They  emerged  into  the  sunlight  and  crossed  the 
moat  in  silence.  Betty  was  a  little  pale,  but  she 


150  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

looked  at  her  companion  now,  calmly.  "  It  seems 
to  me  that  this  afternoon  I  've  waked  up  for  the 
first  time  in  ma  life.  It  has  all  been  dreaming  till 
now." 

"  What  roused  you  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Andreas." 

"  Of  course  I  don't  understand  you." 

They  had  fallen  behind  the  others.  "  Are  n't 
you  going  to  tell  me  what  portentous  thing  Rusty 
said  to  you  ?  " 

"  It  does  n't  matter.  Some  few  words  he  dropped 
had  a  strange  effect  on  me.  They  made  me  jeal 
ous.  I  believe  I  was  never  jealous  befo',  not  even 
when  papa  got  married." 

"  What  in  the  world  should  Rusty  " 

"Never  mind  him.  Really  his  part  in  it  is 
nothing.  It  is  this  strange  feeling  of  mine  that 
I  have  to  study  and  understand." 

She  looked  at  him  with  steady  questioning,  and 
he  felt  as  if  some  intangible  veil  was  falling  be 
tween  them.  He  hastened  to  speak,  lest  in  another 
minute  the  words  would  not  come. 

"  Do  you  mean  —  do  you  mean  "  —  the  gentle 
chivalry  of  his  manner  was  more  marked  than 
ever.  "  Do  you  mean  you  felt  jealous  —  concern 
ing  me  ?  " 

It  would  have  been  so  easy  to  ask  the  question 
a  week  ago.  Why  now  did  it  come  with  conscious 
difficulty  ? 

"Yes,  that  is  what  I  mean."      She  looked  up 


AV   THE   STUDIO.  151 

at  him  wistfully.  They  had  stopped  on  the  quiet 
walk  at  a  little  distance  from  the  spot  where  the 
others  of  the  party  were  waiting  for  a  car.  "  Do 
I,"  —  her  voice  dropped  still  lower,  in  a  sort  of 
awe,  —  "  do  I  —  love  you,  Roger  ?  " 

"  Did  we  ever  doubt  it,  dear  ?  " 

"But  that  way  —  that  frightening  way?  You 
asked  me  to  marry  you,  Sunday.  No  —  you  sug 
gested  it." 

"  As  I  have  done  several  times  before." 

"  Yes ;  it  used  to  seem  the  best  plan  to  us. 
Don't  you  remember  we  determined  not  to  be  like 
the  silly  people  in  books  and  set  ourselves  against 
the  match  just  because  our  fathers  wished  it  ? 
And  we  have  drifted  along,  —  drifted  along." 

A  car  whizzed  by,  and  the  waiting  quartette 
looked  over  toward  the  absorbed  pair  with  some 
impatience. 

"Those  foolish  children!"  said  Mrs.  Archer, 
consciously,  loth  to  disturb  what  she  believed  was 
being  a  salutary  object-lesson  to  this  girl  with  her 
musical  fascinations.  "  Should  n't  you  think  they 
had  time  enough  to  talk  without  detaining  us  like 
this  ?  Betty  !  "  calling ;  "  Betty,  how  many  cars 
do  you  want  us  to  miss  ?  " 

The  girl  started.  "  I  must  talk  to  you  again, 
Roger,  and  I  must  think." 

"  Don't  worry,"  he  answered  soothingly.  "  Of 
course  these  matters  don't  stand  still.  Take  your 
time.  For  one  thing,  you  are  sure  of  me." 


152  ^  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

She  looked  up  into  his  beautiful  eyes,  and  gave 
him  a  curious  little  smile. 

"  No,"  she  answered  unexpectedly.  "  I  am  not 
sure  of  you ;  "  then  she  hurried  forward  to  join  the 
others,  and  Gerard  followed  perforce. 

Andreas  found  an  opportunity  to  seize  Miss  Arch 
er's  hand  in  farewell. 

"  Unfeeling  girl !  What  have  you  been  saying 
to  him  ?  What  do  you  suppose  my  state  of  mind 
has  been  all  this  time  ? "  he  murmured,  in  the 
jingling  of  the  approaching  car.  "  I  give  you  my 
word;  I  feel  like  an  invertebrate  animal.  Nothing 
but  heroic  will-power  keeps  me  from  flopping  down 
on  all  fours.  What  fate  are  you  leaving  me  to  !  " 

"You'll  never  get  more' than  you  deserve,  I'm 
sure  of  that,"  returned  Miss  Archer  lightly.  Then 
she  followed  her  friends  into  the  open  car,  and  fell 
into  thought  as  they  glided  across  the  bridge  in 
the  transfiguring  glory  of  sunset,  soft  reds  and 
molten  gold  of  sky  irradiating  the  water,  and  bath 
ing  the  still  sails  of  ships  in  lovqly  Hampton 
Roads. 

Gerard  and  his  friend  reentered  the  fort  in  the 
dying  glow,  the  former  thoughtful,  and  the  latter, 
to  judge  by  his  unsmiling  countenance,  equally  so. 

Andreas  broke  the  silence.  "  Should  you 
become  engaged  without  announcing  it  to  me, 
Roger?" 

The  lieutenant  smiled.  "  I  '11  never  marry  with 
out  inviting  you  to  the  wedding,  Rusty." 


IN   THE   STUDIO.  153 

"  Miss  Archer  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  girls 
I  ever  saw,"  said  Andreas  bluntly. 

"  You  're  a  judge,  old  man.     Thank  you." 

"  What  are  you  thanking  me  for?  "  retorted  the 
other. 

"  Does  it  offend  you  ?  "  asked  Gerard,  amused. 

"  Of  course  it  does,  unless  you  're  engaged  to 
her." 

"  That  is  something  I  can't  inform  you  about." 

"  That 's  what  hurts.  When  I  was  here  in  the 
winter,  a  dozen  people  on  the  post  spoke  to  me 
of  your,  engagement  to  Miss  Archer.  It  seemed 
to  me  that  I  was  as  near  to  you  as  they,  yet  you 
never  said  a  word  to  me  about  it." 

"  Nor  to  them,  I  assure  you.  It  is  a  fact  that  I 
don't  yet  know  myself  whether  Miss  Archer  will 
honor  me." 

"  Oh !  "  Andreas's  face  expressed  the  most 
earnest  interest.  "  You  are  on  probation,  then  ?  " 

The  lieutenant  kept  a  short  silence. 

"  This  is  a  good  deal  of  a  catechism,"  he  sug 
gested. 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  was  the  curt  reply.  "  Beg  pardon, 
old  chap." 

The  conversation  turning  upon  other  matters,  it 
was  not  until  after  the  two  men  had  parted  for  the 
night,  and  Gerard  was  thinking  over  Betty's  un 
usual  behavior  and  words,  that  the  questions  put 
by  Andreas  returned  to  his  mind. 

An  entirely  novel  thought  came  with  them,  and 


154  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

he  suddenly  threw  himself  into  a  chair  to  consider 
it.  How  much  had  Russell  seen  of  Miss  Archer  in 
Washington?  Then  had  come  the  few  hours  he 
had  spent  with  her  on  a  winter  day  at  Edgewater. 
This  afternoon  they  had  met  again.  There  were 
many  cases  on  record  of  love  at  first  sight.  Was 
it  possible  that  Andreas  found  himself  so  deeply 
impressed  with  the  young  girl  that  those  questions 
had  been  put  with  a  purpose  deeper  than  curiosity 
or  a  friendly  regard  for  his  college  chum  ? 

Gerard  interrogated  his  own  sensations  with 
sudden  and  lively  interest.  Provided  the  suppo 
sition  had  any  ground,  did  he  resent  it?  He  had 
always  supposed  that  some  day  he  should  marry 
Betty  Archer.  That  he  was  fond  of  her  went 
without  saying.  Now  he  searched  himself  for  the 
symptoms  of  jealous  alarm  which  the  presence  of 
such  a  rival  as  Russell  Andreas  ought  to  inspire. 

Instead  of  the  heat  and  excitement  which  the 
occasion  demanded,  he  found  himself  dwelling  with 
curiosity  on  the  question  of  Russell's  state  of  mind. 
That  a  man  sought  after  as  he  had  been  should 
capitulate  so  suddenly  to  a  simple  Southern  girl, 
who  had  never  made  the  smallest  pretense  to  fash 
ion  or  position,  as  position  is  counted  at  the  North, 
was  strange,  if  true.  How  would  Mrs.  Archer 
like  it?  Gerard  smiled  as  he  considered  the  ques 
tion.  She  had  been  more  than  favorable  to  him 
self,  thanks  to  the  fact  that  he  possessed  something 
beside  his  income  from  the  government ;  but  An- 


IN   THE   STUDIO.  155 

dreas  was  a  Philadelphian  of  the  Philadelphians. 
Little  doubt  but  that  she  would  graciously  trans^ 
fer  her  favor  to  him. 

"  Well,  how  does  that  consideration  affect  me  ?  " 
asked  the  lieutenant  of  himself,  with  some  impa 
tience  of  his  own  calmness. 

He  sighed  after  a  vain  attempt  to  detect  some 
hastening  of  his  pulses.  "  I  suppose  the  truth  is 
I  'in  too  sure  of  Betty  to  be  disturbed,"  he  decided. 
"  She  said  she  was  n't  sure  of  me.  What  could 
she  have  meant  by  that  ?  " 

He  rode  over  to  Edgewater  on  his  bicycle  next 
day  to  find  out.  Leaving  the  dusty  road,  he 
entered  the  peaceful,  green,  blossoming  grounds, 
only  to  meet  Miss  Dexter  coming  down  the  box- 
edged  path,  her  hat  on,  and  parasol  in  hand. 

He  met  her  brightly.  "  I  am  unlucky.  You  are 
going  away." 

"  Yes,  to  the  post-office  ;  but  Miss  Archer  is  at 
home." 

"  So  you  do  not  consider  that  politeness  requires 
you  to  turn  around,  then  ?  " 

"  Not  at  all."  Nathalie  smiled.  "  Is  n't  this 
air  delicious  ?  I  go  about  asking  every  one  that 
until  I  suppose  they  think  me  imbecile  ;  but  does 
it  ever  storm  here  ?  " 

"I  hope  it  will  pretty  soon.  The  roads  are 
dusty.  I  can't  expect  you  will  go  with  me  on 
the  wheel  until  the  dust  is  laid  ?  " 

"  I  have  n't  mine  here." 


156          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  I  can  get  one  for  you." 

"  You  are  very  kind  ;  but  please  don't  feel  the 
least  responsibility  of  my  entertainment.  I  came 
here  to  be  lazy." 

"  Well,  you  find  pretty  good  facilities.  Too 
good,  I  fear." 

"Why?" 

"  I  'm  afraid  you  may  neglect  your  practicing." 

"Oh!" 

"  Still  more  afraid  that  you  won't  have  regular 
times  for  it." 

"Indeed?" 

"  And  let  me  know  when  they  are." 

"  There  are  no  rocks  here." 

"  I  know ;  but  perhaps  some  less  solid  ambush 
might  serve  by  this  time." 

"  No  ambush  would  answer  here.  Good-by.  I 
must  go.  I  have  been  sent  for  the  mail." 

She  made  a  hasty  movement. 

"  Are  you  going  to  Old  Point  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Won't  you  let  me  run  over  for  you  on  my 
wheel?" 

"  Thank  you.     I  want  the  walk." 

"Then  why  may  I  not  go  with  you"  — 

"  Good-morning,  Roger."  It  was  Betty's  voice 
which  called  from  the  gallery. 

"  Good-by,"  said  Nathalie,  speaking  low,  and 
moving  quickly  away. 

"  I  just   caught  a  glimpse   of   yo'   red    stripes 


IN   THE   STUDIO.  157 

through  the  green,"  continued  Miss  Archer,  as, 
lifting  his  cap,  the  lieutenant  rolled  his  wheel  up 
the  path  toward  her  and  leaned  it  against  a  pillar. 
"  Birds  of  bright  plumage  are  convenient  when  it 
comes  to  locating  them." 

"  But  think  what  precarious  lives  they  lead. 
They  never  know  when  they  are  safe  !  " 

"  You  are  right  saucy,  sir,  and  you  can  go  away. 
I  don't  want  to  see  you." 

"  We  differ,  then,  for  I  do  want  to  see  you.  I 
came  on  purpose." 

"  Did  you  really  ?  Dear  old  Roger !  But  you 
have  seen  me  now,  and  I  've  had  an  order  for  some 
dinner  favors,  and  I  'm  obliged  to  begin  them  this 
morning." 

"  Bring  your  painting-table  out  here." 

"  And  have  the  wind  blow  ma  things  all  about  ? 
No,  thank  you." 

"  Then  I  '11  come  in  and  help  you  do  them." 

"  Ah,  Roger  !  Is  that  you?"  Mrs.  Archer  came 
upon  the  scene.  "  Have  you  brought  Mr.  Andreas 
over  ?  " 

"  No ;  Mr.  Andreas  is  on  his  way  to  Norfolk  by 
this  time." 

"  I  do  think  it  very  queer  Miss  Toothaker 
couldn't  arrange  to  receive  him  immediately," 
pursued  Mrs.  Archer  impatiently.  "  This  whole 
plebeian  arrangement  becomes  frightfully  annoy 
ing  when  it  is  our  own  friends  who  wish  to  gain 
admittance  here." 


158  .VISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Well,  Andreas  is  Miss  Toothaker's  friend," 
suggested  Gerard. 

"  Nonsense !  He  regards  her  as  he  would  a 
good,  faithful  servant,  of  course.  He  is  your 
friend,  and  therefore  Betty's  and  mine  ;  and  I  hope 
he  won't  be  discouraged  because  he  has  to  be  held 
off  in  this  way.  I  wish  you  would  explain  to  him, 
Roger,  that  Betty  and  I  have  actually  no  more  to 
do  with  the  rooms  here  than  if  we  were  in  Cali 
fornia  at  the  present  moment." 

The  lieutenant  regarded  the  speaker  thought 
fully.  Her  interest  in  his  friend  had  gained  a  new 
meaning  in  his  eyes.  His  glance  roved  to  Betty, 
and  a  tenderness  grew  in  his  heart  at  the  very 
sight  of  her  familiar  face  in  the  light  of  his  new 
thought.  If  the  care  of  her  happiness  were  to 
pass  out  of  his  own  keeping,  how  much  of  respon 
sibility  and  solicitude  he  should  feel ! 

"  Rusty  is  very  comfortable  with  me  for  the 
present,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Archer.  I  think  his 
proud  spirit  can  brook  eating  the  bread  of  de 
pendence  till  Miss  Toothaker  is  ready  for  him." 

Gerard  followed  Betty  into  the  house  to  a  little 
room  where,  beside  a  window,  stood  the  artist's 
table.  Drawing-board,  sketches,  pencils,  paints, 
brushes,  bits  of  water-color  paper,  scraps  of  bolt 
ing-cloth,  made  a  litter  out  of  which  she  now  pro 
ceeded  to  bring  order,  seating  herself  before  the 
table  for  the  purpose. 

"  Don't  you  think  Miss  Dexter  looks  better  than 


IN   THE   STUDIO.  159 

when  she  first  came  ?  "  asked  the  lieutenant,  as  he 
drew  up  a  chair  for  himself,  and  began  turning 
over  the  outlined  sketches  of  aesthetic  female 
figures. 

"  I  reckon  she  does.  Why  ?  Did  she  look  very 
different  last  summer  ?  " 

"  Her  face  was  rounder,  yes,  —  and  of  course 
sunburned,  you  know." 

"  Do  you  admire  sunburned  girls  ?  " 

"  We  were  all  in  the  same  boat  up  there  in 
Maine,  —  shaded  red  and  brown.  Oh,  it  was  fine ! 
The  music  of  waves,  —  nothing  quiet  and  soothing 
like  this,  but  inspiring  and  full  of  vitality  and  ac 
tion.  I  would  like  to  show  you  that  place,  Betty." 

"  But  one  should  have  the  accompaniment  of 
Miss  Dexter's  music,  I  reckon.  I  've  been  think 
ing  about  those  day-dreams  of  yo's,  Roger.  What 
were  they  like  ?  " 

The  lieutenant  met  her  lifted  blue  eyes.  "  Can 
one  tell  day-dreams  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Does  one,  then  ?  Dreams  are  great  bores,  — 
other  people's  dreams." 

"  Was  I  in  them,  Roger  ? "    she  asked  slowly. 

He  smiled  at  her.  "  I  believe  I  was  fifteen  years 
old  when  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  first, 
Miss  Archer.  I  doubt  if  there  has  been  a  day 
since  that  time  when  I  have  not  thought  of  you  — 
Yes,  possibly  during  my  siege  at  West  Point  there 
might  have  been  some  seasons  when  math,  and 


160  JfISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

chim.  and  sundry  other  tortures  drove  you  and  all 
other  joys  out  of  my  head." 

"  Yes,  in  winter  that  was  all  very  well ;  but 
did  n't  any  features  of  the  summer  ever  drive  me 
out  of  yo'  head  ?  " 

Gerard  laughed.  "  When  you  start  in  to  be 
jealous,  you  cover  the  ground,  don't  you,  Betty  ?  " 

She  dropped  her  hands  on  the  drawing-board, 
and  regarded  him.  "  I  told  you  yesterday  that 
I  must  think,  and  I  've  done  so.  I  realize  for  the 
first  time  how  much  of  yo'  life  has  been  lived  with 
out  me.  There  were  girls  at  the  university.  There 
were  girls  at  West  Point." 

"  You  are  not  going  to  ask  me  to  number  those 
sands  of  the  sea,  are  you  ?  "  asked  Gerard,  lifting 
his  eyebrows  in  mock  dismay. 

"  Only  those  you  were  in  love  with." 

He  looked  away  a  moment,  then  slowly  back  to 
her. 

"  Is  this  just  a  case  of  flippant  give  and  take  ? 
I  suppose  you  are  not  in  earnest." 

"  Are  you  trying  to  reproach  me  ?  Are  you 
going  to  say  you  did  not  flirt  at  West  Point  ?  " 

"  Oh !  cadet  officers  all  flirt.  Even  privates 
have  been  known  to.  It  is  part  of  the  curriculum." 
Gerard's  eyes  smiled  again.  "  And  I  was  a  cap 
tain,  remember." 

"  You  did  it  against  your  will,  of  course." 

"  I  don't  remember  ever  taking  a  very  active 
part  in  the  operation.  It  wasn't  necessary.'' 


IN   THE   STUDIO.  161 

"  Roger  Gerard !  That  is  the  most  unchivalrous 
thing  I  ever  heard  you  say." 

"  Oh,  no,"  protested  the  lieutenant  quietly. 
"  Custom,  you  know,  —  custom.  That  sort  of 
thing  is  made  very  graceful  and  easy  for  a  cadet. 
The  regulations  compel  him  to  be  comparatively 
passive,  and  to  wait  as  a  rule  for  aggression  from 
the  other  side  of  the  camp  line.  It  usually  comes, 
and  then  he  slips  easily  along  the  path  of  least 
resistance." 

Betty  painted  a  minute  in  silence  before  she 
spoke. 

"  Roger,  how  many  times  have  you  been  in  love  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her.  She  was  gazing  at  him  as  if 
she  must  have  his  thoughts. 

"  Should  I  be  likely  to  be  in  that  condition 
without  telling  you  ?  " 

"How  do  I  know?" 

He  looked  down  a  moment,  and  then  up  at  her 
again  with  a  new,  serious  expression. 

"  I  have  a  glimmering  idea  that  to  be  in  love  is 
an  extremely  sacred  thing,"  he  said  simply. 

"  But  you  do  not  know  by  experience  ?  " 

"I  —  scarcely  "  —     He  hesitated. 

"  Yet  you  have  asked  me  to  marry  you."  Betty 
spoke  gravely.  "  How  do  you  excuse  yo'self  ?  " 

A  bird-song  floated  in  at  the  open  window.  The 
two  sat  absolutely  still  for  half  a  minute,  their 
faces  averted.  At  last  Gerard  turned  to  her  and 
spoke  gently. 


162  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Are  not  our  lives  the  explanation  ?  There  is 
no  reason  for  you  to  feel  bitterly  toward  me.  If 
you  could  examine  into  my  life,"  —  her  very  help 
lessness  to  do  so  smote  upon  him  and  made  him 
take  her  listless  hand,  —  "  you  would  find  nothing 
in  it  disloyal  to  you." 

She  regarded  him  with  a  strange  little  smile. 
"  Then  if  I  'm  in  love  with  you,  ma  fate  is  a  sad 
one,  is  n't  it  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  Betty.  Don't  say  it !  "  he  returned, 
with  quick  pain.  "  Never  was  man  more  devoted 
to  woman  than  I  will  be  to  you,  if  you  decide  that 
your  happiness  is  to  marry  me.  I  swear  that." 

"  And  you  will  bury  yo'  regret,  whatever 
comes?" 

He  looked  directly  into  her  eyes.  "  There  will 
be  no  —  Hark !  "  He  interrupted  himself  sud 
denly,  turned  away,  and  rose  noiselessly  to  his  feet. 
Through  walls  and  closed  doors  came  a  delicious, 
plaintive  melody  with  a  flowing  accompaniment. 
It  was  the  first  thing  he  had  heard  Nathalie  play, 
on  his  turf  couch  by  the  boulder  at  the  Pulpit. 

"  Miss  Dexter  said  she  was  going  to  Old  Point," 
he  murmured. 

Betty  looked  up  at  him  scrutinizingly,  wistfully. 
"People  change  their  minds,"  she  answered  softly. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE    LIEUTENANT    OFFENDS. 

"  Do  you  know  that  mother  of  yours  is  just  the 
best  woman  in  this  world  ?  "  asked  Miss  Toothaker 
of  Nathalie,  as  she  came  out  to  where  the  latter 
was  swinging  in  a  hammock  under  the  trees. 

"  Who  would  n't  be  good  here  ?  "  returned  Miss 
Dexter.  "  I  'm  good  myself." 

Miss  Priscilla  sat  down  on  a  rustic  seat.  She 
took  her  rests  in  odd  moments  and  places,  just 
alighting,  as  it  were,  occasionally,  on  her  way  from 
one  duty  to  another. 

"  To  watch  the  way  she  looks  out  to  see  if  she 
can't  help  me,  and  does  little  things  to  make  the 
other  boarders  enjoy  themselves,  and  lets  Mrs. 
Archer  talk  her  to  death,  always  havin'  some  work 
in  those  pretty  hands  o'  hers,  so  's  nobody  can 
really  waste  her  time.  It 's  just  a  comfort  to  have 
her  around  !  I  hope  you  realize,  Nathalie  Dexter, 
if  you  don't  ever  have  another  blessin'  in  life,  that 
your  mother,  with  her  sweet  face  and  the  calm, 
happy  light  shinin'  in  her  eyes,  is  blessin'  enough 
for  one  girl." 

"  Do  you  know,  Miss  Toothaker,  that  is  a  very 
good  thing  to  remember  ?  "  said  Nathalie,  regard- 


164  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

ing  Priscilla  and  speaking  slowly.  "  Miss  Archer 
has  no  such  blessing  as  that." 

"  No,  poor  lamb." 

"  I  probably  appeared  very  idle  to  you  when  you 
came  out  here  under  the  trees,"  went  on  Nathalie, 
looking  up  into  the  boughs,  "  but  that  was  merely 
an  appearance." 

"  'T  was,  eh  ?     What  you  up  to  ?  " 

"  I  've  just  discovered  that  I  was  meant  to  be 
a  poet.  I  've  been  turning  into  one  ever  since  I 
arrived  here.  Now  that  the  locust-trees  have  blos 
somed,  and  the  roses  are  blooming,  and  the  whole 
atmosphere  smells  like  sweet  peas,  I  feel  that  the 
time  has  come.  Wonderful  things  are  seething  in 
my  brain.  There  is  only  a  thin  veil  between  me 
and  the  most  graceful  poem  of  nature  that  ever 
was  written." 

"  Well,  I  wish  you  good  luck.  That  avenue  o' 
locusts  out  there  in  the  road  is  sightly,  ain't  it? 
The  green  is  so  fresh  and  delicate,  and  the  clusters 
o'  bloom  all  over  'em  makes  'em  look  as  if  they 
were  all  trimmed  up  with  festoons  o'  white  lace. 
Your  ma  likes  those  trees.  Says  she  had  locusts 
on  her  weddin'  bonnet." 

"  Yes,  she  told  me,"  said  Nathalie  softly.  "  That 
is  part  of  the  poem ;  but,  alas,"  — with  a  sigh,  — 
"though  it  would  make  a  poet's  fortune  to  look 
into  my  brain,  I  fear  I  shall  never  be  able  to 
straighten  out  the  sweet  tangle." 

Miss  Toothaker  looked  around  approvingly  on 


TIIK   LIEUTENANT   OFFENDS.  165 

the  tall,  thick  rosebushes,  rapidly  covering  with 
flowers  in  all  stages  of  blossoming.  "  Folks  down 
here  say  the  roses  are  early  this  year.  I  guess 
your  ma  has  loved  'em  into  bloom.  I  guess  there 
ain't  a  day  since  she  came  that  she  has  n't  gone 
around  to  every  bush  on  the  place,  lookin'  at  the 
buds.  I  'd  bloom  in  their  place.  There  she  is  this 
minute,  over  yonder.  Who  's  she  got  with  her  ? 
Mr.  Andreas  ?  Yes.  There  ain't  anybody  else 
around  quite  so  big  as  he  is.  Let 's  see  what 
they  're  goin'  to  do.  I  '11  bet  she  's  goin'  to  show 
him  the  Pride  of  India  tree.  Yes,  sir,  that 's  just 
what  she 's  doin'." 

Priscilla  watched  with  interested  eyes  as  the 
pair  crossed  the  lawn  to  the  tree  with  its  stiff  and 
gorgeous  purple  clusters. 

"  Your  ma 's  tickled  to  pieces  with  those  flowers  ; 

says  the  calyx  is  just  like  wash-leather.     See  here, 

—  they  're  goin'  off !    They  don't  see  us.     I  've  got 

to  speak  to  Mr.  Andreas.     I  know  he  wants  me. 

Shall  I  call  him  ?  " 

"  No,  no  !  He  does  n't  fit  into  my  poem.  He  is 
too  material." 

Miss  Priscilla  started  up  and  hurried  after  her 
friends,  calling  upon  Russell  Andreas,  who  turned. 
Excusing  himself  from  his  companion,  he  came  to 
meet  the  housekeeper. 

"  Good-afternoon,"  she  said.  "  I  suppose  you  're 
after  me." 

"  You  know  I  have  been  for  years,  Miss  Pris," 
he  returned  with  sentiment. 


166  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Go  'way,  goose,"  she  returned  ;  but  she  smiled, 
for  she  declared  within  herself  that  it  was  good  for 
sore  eyes  to  see  him  again. 

"  That 's  unkind,"  he  said  reproachfully.  "  How 
ever,  you  have  a  rival  at  last." 

"  Who  is  it  this  time  ?  " 

"  Mrs.  Dexter.  Is  n't  she  more  than  charming  ? 
I  've  been  talking  with  her  for  the  last  half  hour, 
and  I  've  lost  my  heart  entirely." 

"  Oh,  cheer  up !  There  's  a  string  to  that  heart 
o'  yours,  sure." 

"  No,  no  !  "  gravely.  "  This  time  it 's  the  real 
divine  spark  I  feel.  There  is  n't  a  doubt  of  it." 

"  The  real  '  divine  spork,'  eh  ?  "  mimicked  Miss 
Toothaker,  laughing. 

"  That 's  unkind  again,"  remarked  Russell. 

"  She  says,"  he  added,  —  "  charming  Mrs.  Dex 
ter  says  that  she  thinks  the  superfluous  creature 
who  has  had  my  room  here  has  at  last  consented 
to  get  off  the  earth." 

"  Sounds  like  Mrs.  Dexter." 

"  That  is  a  free  translation  of  what  she  said,  but 
is  the  spirit  of  it  correct  ?" 

"  Yes.  You  can  come  now  whenever  you  want 
to.  There  was  a  woman  over  from  one  o'  the 
hotels  this  mornin'  wanted  to  come  here  so  bad 
that  when  she  found  I  had  n't  a  room  for  her,  she 
sat  right  down  on  the  piazza  and  cried." 

"  Peri  at  the  gates  of  Paradise,  was  n't  it  ?  Well, 
that  makes  you  realize,  Miss  Pris,  what  might  have 


THE   LIEUTENANT    OFFENDS.  167 

happened  if  you  had  met  me  with  a  negative 
answer.  I  tell  you,"  impressively,  "  when  I  weep, 
I  weep,  and  it  is  n't  any  laughing  matter." 

Miss  Toothaker  looked  at  the  speaker  kindly. 
"  Well,  I  'in  glad  we  can  take  you.  It  does  seem 
like  good  old  times  to  have  you  'round  with  your 
fool  remarks." 

Andreas  lifted  his  eyebrows  and  smiled.  "  You 
do  me  too  much  honor,"  he  said,  bowing  and  bring 
ing  his  hat  to  his  heart. 

Mrs.  Archer  gave  the  young  Philadelphian  the 
most  cordial  of  welcomes,  and  in  the  days  that  fol 
lowed  showed  such  an  embarrassing  disposition  to 
secure  tete-a-tetes  with  him  in  order  to  discover 
and  discuss  mutual  acquaintances,  that  he  finally 
took  refuge  in  a  truly  pitiable  ignorance. 

"  The  fact  is,  I  've  been  so  much  away,  Mrs. 
Archer,  I  'm  afraid  my  mother's  friends  have  for 
gotten  me ;  and  really,  I  suppose  it 's  a  shame,  but 
I  've  pretty  well  forgotten  them.  You  will  have 
to  make  great  allowances  for  me." 

"  An  Andreas  will  never  be  forgotten  in  Phila 
delphia,"  she  responded  superbly.  "  When  you 
return  there,  you  will  find  open  doors  and  open 
arms." 

"  You  alarm  me.     I  am  naturally  shy." 

"  We  shall  meet  there  some  time,"  declared  Mrs. 
Archer,  in  such  an  uplifted  manner  that  Russell 
laughed  frankly. 

"  You  speak  as  if  you  believed  that  good  Amer 


168          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

leans  go  to  Philadelphia  when  they  die.  I  've 
always  understood  that  Paris  was  the  goal." 

"  Excuse  me,"  retorted  his  companion.  "  My 
idea  of  heaven  is  n't  of  a  place  where  all  the  drivers 
try  to  run  over  you,  and  fine  you  if  they  succeed." 

"  Oh !  he  has  such  a  manner !  "  she  declared 
afterward  to  Betty.  "  There  is  such  a  je  ne  sais 
quoi  about  him !  He  is  a  kingly  man." 

Mrs.  Archer  fell  into  thought,  regarding  the 
figure  of  her  daughter  painting  busily  at  her  table. 

"  You  are  a  very  odd  girl,"  she  said  at  last  im 
patiently.  "  Why  don't  you  say  something  ?  " 

"  What,  for  instance  ?  " 

"Make  some  comment  on  Mr.  Andreas.  Tell 
me  what  you  think  of  him." 

"  Why,  you  have  covered  the  ground.  I  think 
with  you  there  is  a,je  ne  sais  quoi  about  him." 

"  And  you  admire  him,  of  course  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  I  'm  a  very  admiring  person." 

"  You  never  would  confide  in  me,"  complained 
Mrs.  Archer  with  heat. 

"  I  've  nothing  to  confide,  indeed  I  have  n't," 
returned  the  girl  mildly. 

"  Betty  Archer,  sometimes  I  think  you  are  the 
deepest  creature  in  existence,  and  then  again  I 
believe  you  are  as  transparent  as  a  child  of  five ! 
A  blind  man  in  a  dark  cellar  could  see  that  Mr. 
Andreas  admires  you." 

"  And  Miss  Dexter." 

"  I  deny  it.     He  does  n't  care  a  rap  for  all  that 


THE   LIEUTENANT   OFFENDS.  169 

dramming  that  you  and  Roger  roll  up  your  eyes 
over." 

"  Well,  what  of  it  ?  "  Betty  gave  a  warmer 
tint  to  the  blonde  tresses  of  the  quaintly  gowned 
girl  she  was  painting  on  an  oblong  bit  of  bolting- 
cloth. 

"  Well,"  rejoined  Mrs.  Archer  with  some  sharp 
ness,  "  I  should  think  it  would  be  a  matter  of  some 
pleasurable  excitement  to  be  admired  by  a  man 
like  that.  Most  girls  would  like  to  talk  about  it. 
You  're  so  queer ;  but,"  in  a  different  tone,  "  I 
suppose  the  reason  is  Roger.  Betty,"  impressively, 
"  are  you  sure  about  Roger  ?  " 

The  girl  gave  the  faintest  smile  at  her  work. 
"  Why  do  you  ask  that  ?  " 

Mrs.  Archer  seemed  relieved  by  the  gentle  ques 
tion,  and  settled  back  in  her  chair  like  one  who 
sees  a  longed-for  opportunity. 

"I  have  been  feeling  it  my  duty  for  some  time 
to  ask  you  if  you  were  sure  that  your  childish  fond 
ness  for  Roger  was  the  sort  to  make  it  suitable  for 
you  to  marry  him.  I  have  been  wondering  if  you 
would  be  led  by  a  mistaken  sense  of  honor  in  the 
matter ;  if  you  would  feel  that  your  father's  wish 
was  binding,  and  that  you  must  n't  disappoint 
Roger,  or  something  of  that  kind." 

"  I  thought  you  wished  me  to  marry  him." 

"  I  do,  if  it 's  the  best  thing ;  but  I  do  feel  that 
I  ought  to  tell  you "  —  Mrs.  Archer  stirred  with 
some  embarrassment  —  "  that  the  Andreas  family 


170          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

as  a  family  are  people  of  more  property  and  higher 
position  than  Roger  Gerard." 

Betty  slowly  turned  her  head  and  gave  her  com 
panion  a  long  look  before  returning  to  her  work. 

"You  are  absurdly  unsophisticated,  my  dear," 
responded  Mrs.  Archer  to  the  unspoken  reproach. 
"  I  beg  you  not  to  encourage  any  false  sentiment. 
I  only  wish  to  tell  you  that  you  ought  not  to  con 
sider  yourself  bound  to  Roger  by  any  childish  ties 
whatever.  You  have  outgrown  those  now." 

"  Both  of  us  have,  then,  I  suppose." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  of  course  he  is  no  more  bound 
than  I  am." 

Mrs.  Archer  bristled.  "  Roger  is  too  much  of  a 
gentleman,  I  hope,  to  take  an  initial  step  in  this 
matter." 

"  Yes,  he  is,  bless  him !  "  The  girl  spoke  with  a 
fervor  rarely  displayed  before  her  stepmother. 
"  One  would  almost  think  he  had  a  claim  to  con 
sideration,"  she  added. 

"  If  you  are  going  to  imply  that  I  am  lacking 
in  regard  for  Roger,  you  are  extremely  unjust ;  on 
the  contrary,  I  want  him  to  have  a  wife  who  loves 
him,  not  to  marry  a  girl  who  is  merely  used  to  him." 

And^  this  sounded  so  extremely  well  that  Mrs. 
Archer  said  it  over  a  second  time  with  unction. 

"  He  will."  Betty  said  it  softly  as  she  put  a 
rosebud  in  her  young  woman's  taper  fingers.  "  His 
wife  will  love  him." 


THE    LIEUTENANT    OFFENDS.  171 

"  Then  you  are  sure  about  him,"  said  Mrs. 
Archer  with  a  touch  of  disappointment. 

"  I  'm  sure  about  him,"  answered  the  girl. 

"  Sure  about  who  ?  "  asked  Gerard  himself,  com 
ing  into  the  room. 

"  Whom,  lieutenant?"  suggested  the  artist,  just 
glancing  up.  "  About  you,  of  co'se.  Who  else 
should  we  be  talking  about  ?  " 

"  Whom,  if  you  please,  Miss  Archer."  Gerard 
bowed  to  the  other  lady,  and  sat  down  near  the 
painting-table. 

"  Why  don't  you  call  me  Miss  Orcher-Orcher, 
as  your  friend  Rusty  does  ?  " 

"  Because  I  think  you  are  more  sure  to  come 
when  I  call  you  '  Betty.'  Don't  you  want  to  come 
out  on  your  wheel  ?  I  think  you  stay  in  the  house 
too  much." 

"  Indeed  she  does,  Roger.  There  is  really  no 
necessity  for  her  working  this  spring." 

"  And  because  there  is  n't,"  said  Betty,  "  of 
co'se  the  orders  come  pouring  in." 

"  Why  don't  you  reject  them  with  superb  dis 
dain?" 

"  Because  I  'm  mercenary,  I  reckon." 

"  I  '11  tell  you  why,"  put  in  Mrs.  Archer,  with 
impatience.  "  It  is  because  she  says  that  now  she 
can  use  her  money  for  charity.  Those  dinner- 
favors  will  probably  all  turn  into  baby  clothes  and 
grape  juice." 

"  Oh,  you  make  me  feel  so  good,"  murmured 


172          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Betty ;  "  just  like  a  little  angel  with  wings  spring 
ing  out.  If  both  of  you  would  only  not  object  to 
minding  yo'  own  affairs." 

"  That 's  it,  Roger,"  remarked  Mrs.  Archer  ex 
asperated.  "  Betty  appears  to  be  such  a  gentle 
creature.  I  wish  anybody  joy  who  tries  to  influ 
ence  her." 

"  "What 's  this  ?  "  exclaimed  Gerard  suddenly, 
seizing  the  pencil  sketch  of  a  woman's  head. 

Betty  glanced  up  to  see  what  he  had,  then  looked 
back  at  her  work.  "  Well,  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  Miss  Dexter.     Did  you  do  it  ?  " 

Mrs.  Archer  came  to  look  curiously  over  his 
shoulder. 

"  Yes,  I  did  it." 

"  Well,  that  is  good,"  admiringly.  "  If  you  can 
catch  likenesses  like  that,  you  will  be  doing  some 
thing  beside  dinner-favors  one  of  these  days." 

"  Is  n't  it  pretty  ?  I  've  just  had  an  order  for 
cards  with  female  heads  for  a  men's  dinner-party. 
That  will  come  in  very  well." 

"  What !    You  are  thinking  of  using  this  ?  " 

"  Copies  of  it,  yes.  It  will  do  duty  in  several 
ways,  —  blondes  and  brunettes  both." 

"  You  would  allow  a  likeness  of  Miss  Dexter  to 
go  to  a  man's  dinner-table  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  need  n't  bite  her  head  off,"  said  Mrs. 
Archer.  "  Business  is  business.  If  it  answers  the 
purpose,  why  not  use  it?  Who  would  be  the 
wiser?" 


THE   LIEUTENANT   OFFENDS.  173 

"  Would  n't  you  like  to  be  the  guest  to  receive 
one  ?  "  inquired  Betty,  apparently  unruffled. 

"  I  could  n't  accept  such  a  thing,  —  such  a  great 
thing."  The  speaker's  agitation  was  evident. 
"  What  right  have  I  ?  I  am  surprised  at  you  for 
considering  such  a  liberty  as  this.  Even  if  Miss 
Dexter  should  consent  in  her  desire  to  be  of  use  to 
you,  it  should  n't  be  allowed.  To  think  that  Tom, 
Dick,  or  Harry  might  have  such  a  resemblance 
lying  on  his  table  for  his  friends  to  comment  on  — 
Why,  Betty ! "  for  utterly  without  warning  the 
girl's  false  calm  gave  way,  and  burying  her  face  in 
her  hands,  she  became  shaken  from  head  to  foot 
with  violent  sobs.  Her  drawing-board  rested  in  her 
lap,  her  brush  had  dropped  to  the  floor,  while  the 
festive  rose-laden  maid  on  the  bolting-cloth  doubled 
up  ignominiously. 

"  Betty  !  "  exclaimed  Gerard  again,  desperately, 
starting  to  his  feet  and  lifting  away  the  debris  of 
work. 

"  There !  I  hope  you  are  satisfied,  Roger  Ge 
rard,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Archer.  "  I  should  like  to 
know  who  Nathalie  Dexter  is,  that  you  should 
scold  Betty  and  hurt  her  feelings  so  on  her  ac 
count?  As  if  there  would  be  any  likeness  after 
Betty  had  worked  it  up  into  a  fancy  head,  as  she 
always  does !  Such  a  tempest  in  a  teapot !  " 

"  Hush !  "  exclaimed  the  weeping  girl,  convul 
sively  waving  a  protesting  hand  toward  her  step 
mother. 


174  MI8S   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Here,  here  's  a  handkerchief,  dear,"  said  Mrs. 
Archer,  tucking  one  into  Betty's  hand,  and  looking 
daggers  at  the  miserable  lieutenant.  Who  knew 
but  this  unexpected  difference  might  lead  to 
vaguely  better  things  ?  "  My  daughter,  Mrs. 
Andreas."  Like  a  faint,  suggestive  echo  this 
pleasing  phrase  sounded  upon  her  inner  ear. 

"  You  had  better  go  right  away,  Roger,"  she  said 
fussily;  but  Betty's  hand  suddenly  flew  out  and 
seized  Gerard  blindly.  He  took  courage  then  to 
seat  himself  close  to  her,  and  take  the  hand  in 
his. 

"  I  'm  awfully  ashamed  of  myself,  dear,"  he  said 
contritely. 

"  You  —  you  —  don't  know  what  —  I  'm  —  cry 
ing  about,"  she  sobbed.  "  You  —  are  n't  to  — 
blame!" 

It  was  what  she  had  always  said.  In  every 
escapade  of  his  boyhood  she  had  always  main 
tained,  whether  she  proved  it  or  not,  that  he  was 
not  to  blame.  He  remembered  this,  and  a  strange 
tremor  seized  his  heart.  He  had  been  deeply, 
unreasonably  stirred  just  now,  and  bewilderment 
and  remorse  were  at  work  upon  him. 

"  You  dear,  forgiving  girl !  I  was  mad  to  talk 
to  you  so.  How  should  you  know  what  I  meant, 
or  why  I  felt  such  distaste  "  — 

"  Now,  then,  Roger,  you  are  only  exciting  her !  " 
Mrs.  Archer's  sharp  voice  aided  Betty  to  regain 
control  of  herself. 


THE    LIEUTENANT    OFFENDS.  175 

In  a  minute  more  she  tried  to  smile  on  him. 
"  Is  n't  this  —  ridiculous  ?  "  she  said  ;  then  with  a 
sudden  movement  she  leaned  forward  and  picked 
up  the  sketch  of  Nathalie  and  tore  it  in  two. 

Gerard  started  uncontrollably. 

"  There.     Does  that  please  you  ?  "  she  asked. 

Mrs.  Archer  saw  the  start.  She  had  become 
lynx-eyed. 

"  Perhaps  he  would  rather  have  kept  it  safe  for 
you,"  she  suggested  sneeringly. 

After  Gerard,  still  quiet  and  penitent,  had  taken 
himself  away,  Mrs.  Archer  gazed  at  the  girl  with 
sharply  thoughtful  eyes. 

"  Well,"  she  said  at  last,  "  I  don't  like  the  looks 
of  things  at  all.  I  don't  see  how  you  can  say  you 
feel  sure  about  Roger." 

The  speaker's  voice  showed  her  alarm.  It  did 
not  suit  her  at  all  to  lose  hold  on  Gerard  until 
she  had  seen  how  much  that  fascinating  Mr.  An 
dreas  meant  by  his  flattering  ways. 

She  recalled  how  the  lieutenant  had  one  day 
been  chaffing  Russell  before  the  others  on  the  slip 
pery  character  of  his  affections.  Roger  had  said 
that  whenever  parents  inquired  into  Rusty's  inten 
tions,  it  was  that  young  man's  habit  to  state  that 
they  were  "  honorable  but  remote." 

Mrs.  Archer  felt  very  doubtful  of  him.  He 
thought  Betty  was  a  pretty,  simple  creature,  doubt 
less  ;  but  the  more  the  stepmother  reflected,  the 
less  probable  it  seemed  that  his  admiration  was 


176          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

more  than  skin-deep.  Beside,  he  probably  looked 
upon  Betty  as  Gerard's  intended ;  and  now  was 
Gerard  going  to  be  beguiled  from  his  allegiance 
by  a  piano-playing  nobody?  The  state  of  things 
was  one  which  required  watching. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

UNDER   THE   WILLOWS. 

"  I  AM  glad  you  happened  out,  Miss  Betty," 
said  Mrs.  Dexter.  "  I  have  just  finished  this  little 
gown.  Is  that  about  the  thing  ?  " 

Mrs.  Dexter,  sitting  under  a  tree,  her  work-bas 
ket  beside  her,  held  up  the  gown  by  its  two  tiny 
sleeves. 

"It  is  just  the  thing!  How  good  you  are  to 
me!" 

"  I  don't  look  at  it  that  way.  It  seems  odd  to 
find  a  girl  as  young  as  you  so  interested  in  char 
itable  work.  It  is  only  a  pleasure  to  me  to  help 

you." 

"  There  is  n't  anything  odd  about  it  if  you  un 
derstand,"  returned  Betty,  throwing  herself  down 
lightly  on  the  grass.  "  I  've  lived  here  all  ma  life, 
and  ma  father  never  could  deny  help  to  the  negroes. 
He  always  felt  more  or  less  responsibility  of  them. 
Of  co'se,  all  his  boyhood  he  saw  them  looked  after, 
and  I  feel  he  'd  like  fo'  me  to  do  fo'  them  when 
they  need  it.  They  are  such  helpless,  shiftless 
creatures." 

"But  when  you  visit  Hampton,  you  feel  that 
that  will  not  always  have  to  be  said." 


178          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know,"  returned  Betty,  with  gen 
tle  skepticism. 

"  My  dear  girl !  " 

Betty  smiled.  "Yo  're  a  No'therner.  Of  co'se, 
yo're  enthusiastic.  The  trouble  is  I'm  a  South 
erner  and  I  know  the  negroes,  and  I  know  facts 
and  the  figures  that  never  lie." 

"  It  is  too  soon  to  compile  facts  and  figures," 
returned  Mrs.  Dexter,  with  some  warmth.  "  The 
chaos  of  the  reactionary  stage  is  n't  worked  out  of 
yet.  Many  generations  of  dependence,  not  being 
allowed  to  stand  alone,  and  being  denied  education, 
must  be  followed  by  many  generations  where  the 
reverse  course  is  carried  out  before  there  is  any 
justice  in  forming  conclusions." 

The  young  girl  smiled  into  the  earnest  face. 
"  And  as  we  shan't  be  here  many  generations 
hence,  we  can't  prove  anything,  can  we  ?  " 

"  No,  we  can  only  make  baby  clothes  and  hope," 
returned  Mrs.  Dexter,  folding  up  the  little  gown 
with  a  sigh. 

Betty  leaned  on  her  elbow  and  began  idly  to 
gather  the  buttercups  nearest  her. 

"  I  Ve  been  wanting  to  ask  you  a  question,"  she 
said  at  last.  The  girl  had  become  fond  of  Mrs. 
Dexter.  She  got  on  with  her  more  unconstrainedly 
than  with  Nathalie,  and  she  enjoyed  the  sunshine 
of  Mrs.  Dexter's  approval  with  all  her  motherless 
heart. 

"  And  I  want  to  answer  all  your  questions  if  I 
can,  my  dear." 


UNDER    THE    WILLOWS.  179 

"  Such  a  strange  thing  has  just  come  to  ma 
knowledge.  I  know  a  girl  who  has  a  brother  she 
is  particularly  fond  of.  She  has  suddenly  come  to 
suspect  that  he  is  in  love  with  some  one ;  and  this 
sister  has  been  wretched  about  it,  — really  wretched. 
She  cries,  and  grows  warm  and  cold  over  it,  and  — 
and  feels  that  the  world  is  —  almost  slipping  away 
from  her.  What  does  that  mean  ?  " 

"  Jealousy,  of  course,  poor  girl." 

"  But  how  absurd !  Did  you  ever  hear  of  such 
a  case  ?  " 

"  It  is  rather  extreme.  Your  friend  must  be 
peculiarly  dependent  upon  this  brother." 

"She  is.  She"  Betty's  throat  closed,  and 
she  raised  herself  on  her  knee  to  reach  for  a  far 
away  buttercup,  her  back  to  Mrs.  Dexter. 

The  latter  picked  up  another  piece  of  sewing. 
"  It  is  n't  at  all  unUsual  for  a  sister  to  suffer  greatly 
when  another  girl  becomes  all  the  world  to  her 
favorite  brother,"  she  went  on,  as  Betty  did  not 
continue.  "  Of  course,  it  is  selfish  ;  but  it  is  pit 
iful  all  the  same.  I  cried  for  two  days  when  my 
brother  became  engaged,  and  I  had  to  use  a  great 
deal  of  ingenuity  to  dodge  him  and  not  let  him 
suspect  me.  It  seems  very  funny,  as  I  think  of 
it  now ;  but  then  it  was  no  laughing  matter." 

"  And  you  got  over  it  ?  "  Betty  returned  to  her 
seat  at  the  older  woman's  feet. 

"  Indeed,  I  was  very  soon  thanking  him  for  my 
new  sister." 


180         MJSS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  But  supposing  she  had  n't  liked  you  ?  " 
.    "  Oh,  I  would  have  made  her  like  me,"  said  Mrs. 
Dexter  gayly.     "  Beside,  it  is  n't  half  so  important 
whether  people  like  us  as  we  believe  it  is." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  It  is  tremendously  iin- 
po'tant  to  me." 

"  Then  just  take  on  a  new  thought  about  it,  my 
clear,  and  realize  that  that  is  the  part  of  the  prob 
lem  you  have  nothing  to  do  with.  Your  business 
is  to  give  out  kindly  thoughts  to  everybody  all  the 
time,  and  leave  the  rest." 

"  To  everybody  —  all  the  time  !  "  repeated  Betty 
incredulously. 

"  Certainly." 

"  But  how  can  one  ?  There  are  right  many  peo 
ple  I  don't  like  at  all." 

Mrs.  Dexter  smiled.  "  That  is  because  you 
don't  know  them." 

"  Oh,  it 's  because  I  do  know  them,"  rejoined 
the  girl  quickly. 

"  No  ;  you  only  know  the  rubbish  that  has  ac 
cumulated  over  them,  and  that  some  time  they  will 
put  off.  You  must  help  them  by  recognizing  it  as 
rubbish  and  no  part  of  them,  and  when  they  vex 
you,  keep  thinking  of  the  Goodness  and  Truth  that 
is  every  instant  pouring  into  their  souls  and  keep 
ing  them  alive,  —  and  that  of  course  you  love." 

Betty  looked  at  the  older  woman  curiously. 

"  That 's  the  queerest  talk  I  ever  heard  in  ma 
life." 


UNDER    THE    WILLOWS.  181 

"  How  do  you  like  it  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Dexter,  not 
raising  her  eyes  from  her  work. 

"  I  reckon  I  'm  too  rubbish-y  maself  to  act  up 
to  it,"  returned  Betty  slowly.  She  bit  a  buttercup 
stem  for  a  minute  in  silence. 

"  Did  you  ever  talk  that  way  to  Mrs.  Archer  ?  " 
she  asked  at  last,  with  a  curious  look  out  of  the 
tops  of  her  eyes. 

"  Once  or  twice." 

"  What  did  she  say  ?  " 

"  She  said,"  Mrs.  Dexter  bit  off  her  thread  while 
an  irrepressible  laugh  rose  to  her  lips,  —  "  she  said 
that  some  of  the  best  families  were  talking  about 
such  things  nowadays." 

Betty  threw  back  her  head  hilariously.  "  Just 
let  souls  grow  fashionable,  and  Mrs.  Archer  will 
have  one  of  the  first,"  she  remarked.  "  We  were 
really  speaking  of  an  angel,  weren't  we?  And 
here  she  comes,"  she  went  on  after  a  pause,  in  a 
lowered  voice. 

"  If  there  's  so  much  fun  going  on  anywhere,  I 
should  like  to  be  in  it,  for  I  've  been  reading  such 
a  stupid  book,"  said  Mrs.  Archer,  who  had  come 
down  the  flight  of  steps  from  her  favorite  gallery 
upon  hearing  Betty  laugh,  and  now  joined  the 
others  under  their  tree.  "  Busy  as  usual,  Mrs. 
Dexter.  I  'm  sure  it  is  very  lucky  for  Betty  that 
you  have  so  much  time  on  your  hands.  I  do  so 
much  of  my  own  sewing  that  taking  in  any  for 
darky  babies  is  out  of  the  question." 


182  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"Rubbish,"  murmured  Betty  gently,  meeting- 
Mrs.  Dexter's  eyes  with  such  an  innocent  gaze  that 
that  lady's  gravity  was  nearly  lost. 

"  What 's  that,  Betty  ?  "  sharply.  "  Did  you 
speak?  Have  I  interrupted  anything  private?  " 

"No,  indeed,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter.  "We  were 
just  talking  before  you  came  about  the  importance 
of  loving  people  enough." 

"  Oh  !  "  Mrs.  Archer  pronounced  the  monosyl 
lable  with  some  disdain.  "  I  fancy  that  takes  care 
of  itself." 

"  Christ  gave  the  two  great  commandments  on 
that  subject  as  if  he  expected  us  to  need  them." 

Mrs.  Archer  stared.  "You're  very  religious, 
are  n't  you,  Mrs.  Dexter  ?  But,  do  you  know,  I  've 
always  avoided  sentimentalism." 

Mrs.  Dexter  smiled  at  the  abbreviated  sleeve 
she  was  hemming.  "  Christ  said  we  were  to  love, 
as  he  has  loved  us  ;  and  that  means  not  with  effu 
sion  and  demonstrativeness,  but  with  good  works 
and  helpfulness,  and  above  all;  right  thought. 
All  that  requires  too  vigilant  effort  to  permit  of 
sentimentalism,  does  n't  it  ?  " 

But  Mrs.  Archer's  attention  had  wandered. 
"Where  is  Miss  Nathalie?"  she  asked  suddenly. 
"  I  thought  she  was  here  with  you." 

"  She  went  out  with  her  kodak,"  answered 
Betty,  beginning  to  give  furtive,  anxious  glances 
toward  her  stepmother's  suspicious  face. 

"Whereto?" 


UNDER    THE    WILLOWS.  183 

"  The  fort,  I  believe,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter. 

"  But  they  don't  allow  kodaks  in  the  fort." 

"  Mr.  Gerard  was  kind  enough  to  secure  a 
permit  for  her,"  explained  Mrs.  Dexter.  "  She 
promises  not  to  forward  her  pictures  to  foreign 
powers ! " 

Betty's  heart  beat  fast,  for  her  stepmother's 
face  was  growing  red,  and  portended  a  dangerous 
frankness.  To  her  relief,  Miss  Toothaker  emerged 
upon  the  brick  walk  at  the  back  of  the  house,  and 
loudly  called  Mrs.  Archer.  That  lady  turned  with 
evident  impatience,  but  after  a  moment's  hesita 
tion  she  responded  to  Miss  Priscilla's  call  and 
moved  away. 

"  I  think  I  'm  in  that,  Mrs.  Dexter,"  said 
Betty,  looking  after  her.  "  Just  excuse  me  a 
minute." 

She  moved  across  the  lawn  and  stood  beside  her 
stepmother  until  the  short  interview  with  Miss 
Toothaker  was  over ;  then  she  took  Mrs.  Archer's 
arm,  and  conducting  her  into  the  latticed  walk 
which  led  to  the  dining-room,  she  opened  a  door  in 
its  further  side  and  gently  pushed  her  through. 

"  I  must  see  you  a  minute  alone,"  she  explained. 
Closing  the  latticed  door  behind  them,  the  two 
were  in  an  unfrequented  corner  of  the  grounds, 
where  weeping  willows  drooped  their  long  tassels 
to  the  rich  grass. 

Mrs  Archer  stared  at  the  determined  face  of 
her  stepdaughter  in  surprise. 


184  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  What  would  you  have  said  to  Mrs.  Dexter 
about  her  daughter  in  a  minute  more  if  Miss 
Toothaker  had  not  called  you?  "  demanded  Betty. 

"  I  don't  know,"  angrily.  "  If  ever  there  was  a 
bold  creature  "  — 

"  Don't  say  it.  She  is  n't  bold.  She  is  refined 
like  her  mother,  —  a  lady  through  and  through. 
Now,  Mrs.  Archer,  don't  you  see  that  you  can't 
control  Miss  Dexter's  movements  at  all  ?  Not 
by  any  means  ?  Then  what  would  be  gained  by 
hurting  her  mother's  feelings  and  making  them 
both  go  away  ?  " 

Mrs.  Archer  laughed  sarcastically.  "  They 
won't  go  away.  You  need  n't  fear.  You  could  n't 
get  Nathalie  Dexter  away  from  this  place.  And 
you  would  try  to  keep  her,  —  blind  girl  that  you 
are!" 

"  I  'm  not  blind."  Betty,  pale  and  calm,  looked 
straight  into  the  other's  eyes  as  she  spoke. 

"  Then  if  you  're  not,  you  know  she  is  going  to 
steal  your  lover  from  you  if  she  can." 

"  She  cannot  do  that." 

"  You  are  blind,  just  as  I  thought ! "  Mrs. 
Archer  stamped  her  foot  on  the  soft  turf.  "  Rog 
er's  infatuated  behavior  yesterday  exposed  him  to 
me.  You  poor,  foolish  girl !  I  tell  you,  you  have 
nearly  lost  him  now." 

"  Listen.  I  never  had  him.  Roger  never  was 
my  lover.  No  girl  could  steal  him  from  me." 

"  Then  you  mean  you  intend  to  hold  him  to  his 


UNDER    THE    WILLOWS.  185 

word  ?  Very  right,  too."  Mrs.  Archer's  voice 
gained  a  satisfied  ring.  "  That  is  what  you  meant 
by  telling  me  yesterday  you  were  sure  about  him." 

"  No.  I  meant  what  I  said.  I  am  sure  about 
him,  —  sure  that  at  last  he  is  in  love." 

Mrs.  Archer  regarded  the  pale,  pure  face,  admir 
ingly.  "  Well,  you  are  a  cool  hand,  Betty.  I 
would  n't  have  believed  it  of  you.  You  can  keep 
your  head  steady  where  most  people  would  lose 
theirs  completely." 

The  girl's  soft  lips  parted  in  a  little  smile. 
"  I  would  n't  hold  him.  You  can't  think  that  ? 
Why,  I  love  Roger." 

"  Then  has  Mr.  Andreas  said  anything  ?  "  asked 
Mrs.  Archer  eagerly. 

Betty  stepped  back,  and  lifted  a  repulsing  hand 
in  an  involuntary  gesture  of  displeasure.  "  No !  " 
she  said  ;  and  brief  as  the  answer  was,  its  austerity 
warned  her  companion. 

The  latter  stood  for  a  moment  in  doubt,  the 
excited  blood  mantling  in  her  face. 

"  You  need  n't  put  on  any  airs  about  Miss  Dex 
ter  to  me,"  she  said  at  last.  "  A  proud,  disagree 
able,  unsocial  girl  as  ever  lived  !  " 

"  I  don't  find  her  so.  She  has  come  here  to 
rest,  and  she  evidently  likes  to  be  by  herself. 
This  is  a  bo'ding-house,  remember.  She  is  not 
our  guest." 

"  I  suppose  she  has  gone  off  this  afternoon  to  be 
by  herself !  "  said  Mrs.  Archer,  with  a  sneer. 


186          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  I  don't  know.  Perhaps  not.  Roger  is  her 
friend.  We  are  strangers  to  her." 

"  And  you  will  tamely  give  him  up  to  her  ?  " 

"  That  is  something  we  can't  talk  about,  for  we 
don't  know  that  she  cares  for  him." 

"And  don't  you  care  for  him,  you  cold-blooded, 
queer  creature  ?  " 

The  girl's  sensitive  lips  contracted,  but  she  felt 
the  futility  of  an  attempt  at  explanation. 

"  I  may  as  well  tell  you  plainly,  Betty  Archer, 
that  you  have  n't  the  right  you  seem  to  think  you 
have  to  throw  away  a  good  match.  I  've  never 
hurried  you  about  marrying,  and  have  given  you  a 
home  without  a  word  of  objection ;  but  that  can't 
go  on  forever.  You  ought  to  see  that,  without 
making  me  speak  of  it ;  but  you  're  just  as  full  of 
Southern  un practicalness  as  you  can  hold." 

The  girl,  in  her  utter  surprise  at  this  onslaught, 
gazed  large-eyed  at  the  speaker  in  silence.  Her 
long  practice  in  repressing  and  concealing  her  own 
thoughts  stood  her  in  good  stead  now.  Instead  of 
yielding  to  the  overwhelming  grief  of  listening  to 
such  words  in  her  father's  home,  all  her  powers 
were  summoned  to  aid  her  in  appearing  impassive. 

Mrs.  Archer,  concluding  that  this  silence  augured 
well,  decided  to  consider  her  speech  a  Parthian 
shot,  and  to  leave  with  flying  colors  ;  which  she 
accordingly  did,  closing  the  latticed  door  behind 
her  with  a  triumphant  slam. 

For  some  minutes  Betty  continued  to  stand  in 


UNDER   THE    WILLOWS.  187 

the  self-same  spot,  and  to  her  those  minutes  were 
hours.  The  dear  old  trees  waved  gently  above 
her,  and  the  flowering  shrubs  all  about  were  the 
same  she  had  seen  blossom  every  springtime  of 
her  life  ;  but  a  harsh  voice  had  put  her  away  from 
them,  so  that  all  at  once  she  felt  an  alien  in  the 
familiar  place.  Her  first  thought,  as  it  had  always 
been  in  time  of  trouble,  was  Roger  ;  and  it  was 
with  a  sickening  sense  of  loneliness  that  the  reali 
zation  came  over  her  that  he,  too  — 

She  turned  aside  against  a  tree-trunk,  and 
thankful  for  the  solitude  of  the  spot,  broke  down 
forlornly,  crying  her  heart  out,  her  soft  cheek 
pressed  against  the  ridges  of  the  rough  bark,  and 
long  sobs  rising  from  the  depths  of  her  being. 

It  was  difficult  to  tell  which  was  the  proper  en 
trance  to  the  grounds  of  Edgewater.  The  fence 
belonging  to  the  dear  old  house  did  not  seem  to  be 
designed  to  keep  people  out.  Rather  it  was  an 
invention  to  make  gates  possible,  all  swinging  hos 
pitably  inward  to  welcome  the  happy  guest.  One 
of  these  gave  ingress  at  a  point  which  revealed 
Betty's  present  retreat ;  and  Mr.  Andreas,  return 
ing  from  Newport  News,  happened  to  choose  this 
one  this  afternoon.  His  quick  eye  saw,  and 
brightened  at  the  sight,  the  ripple  of  a  blue  and 
white  muslin  gown,  whose  owner  was  nearly  con 
cealed  behind  the  trees. 

Miss  Archer's  wardrobe  was  not  extensive,  but 
all  the  same,  it  was  astonishing  with  what  fidelity 


188          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Mr.  Andreas's  mind  retained  the  general  effect  of 
the  dresses  he  had  seen  her  wear. 

His  opportunities  for  conversation  with  her  since 
he  had  been  staying  at  Edgewater  seemed  to  him 
too  limited.  She  was  always  busy,  either  painting 
in  some  mysterious  room  where  he  had  not  been 
invited  to  enter,  or  else  out  bicycling  with  Gerard, 
or  —  and  this  was  a  very  unpleasant  habit  of  hers 
—  she  had  taken  her  little  boat  before  he  became 
aware  of  her  intention,  and  gone  out  alone  on  the 
waters  of  the  creek. 

He  had  seen  more  of  Nathalie  Dexter,  —  a  girl 
with  much  more  claim  to  beauty  than  Miss  Archer, 
a  girl  unattached,  a  sensible,  responsive  girl,  with 
np  nonsense  about  her ;  but  —  somehow  Mr.  An 
dreas  could  n't  remember  the  figures  on  Miss 
Dexter^  gowns. 

The  blue  and  white  ripple  aforesaid  drew  him 
now  like  a  magnet.  Hurrying  through  the  gate, 
he  struck  out  to  the  left  across  the  thick  turf  in  its 
direction. 

Russell's  voice  was  deep  and  pleasant,  as  befit 
ted  his  big,  symmetrical  person,  and  it  now  gave 
Betty  a  decided  start,  accompanying  his  noiseless 
approach. 

"I  am  going  to  interrupt  this  maiden  medita 
tion,"  he  declared ;  and  the  words  were  scarcely 
out  of  his  mouth  before  it  was  his  turn  to  start,  his 
face  expressing  such  genuine  consternation  that, 
had  she  seen  it,  she  must  have  smiled  through  her 
tears. 


UNDER   THE    WILLOWS.  189 

He  snatched  his  hat  off.  "I  —  I  beg  your  par 
don,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  '11  go  —  go  right  away. 
Can  I  get  anybody?  Perhaps  Roger"  He 
turned  to  leave,  inspired  with  an  idea. 

"  No,  no !  "  she  exclaimed  thickly.  "  Wait  a 
minute." 

He  did  wait,  feeling  painfully  awkward,  the 
slight  figure  in  its  attitude  of  abandon  raising 
something  like  a  lump  in  his  own  throat  as  he 
stood  nervously  striking  his  trousers  with  his  hat, 
wishing  he  had  stayed  at  Newport  News,  and  glad 
he  was  here  close  to  the  blue  and  white  dress,  all 
in  the  same  moment. 

At  last  he  could  see  that  she  had  dropped  the 
hand  that  held  the  handkerchief,  though  she  still 
leaned  against  the  tree  with  her  face  averted  from 
him. 

"  I  hope  nothing  very  bad  has  happened,  Miss 
Archer,"  he  ventured. 

"  No ;  but  I  don't  want  you  to  tell  Roger." 

He  waited,  and  as  she  added  nothing,  he  re 
turned  :  "  How  can  I,  when  I  don't  know  ?  " 

"  You  know  that  I  cried." 

"  Oh,  that !  I  do  wish  I  could  do  something  for 
you."  Russell  spoke  miserably.  The  grieved 
figure  pulled  at  his  very  heart-strings. 

His  voice  comforted  her  somehow.  He  was 
the  only  one  of  her  little  coterie  in  whom  the 
sight  of  her  sorrow  would  not  raise  embarrassing 
questions. 


190          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  You  can  do  something  for  me  if  you  won't  tell 
any  one  —  not  any  one  at  all  —  that  you  saw  me 
cry." 

"  I  won't,  indeed."  A  pause.  "  Do  you  want 
me  to  go  away  ?  " 

"  No,  —  not  especially." 

Russell  smiled  faintly.  "  If  you  even  want  it  a 
little,  I  '11  go." 

"  I  'm  only  afraid  you  '11  see  ma  face.  I  know 
I  look  funny." 

"  I  won't  look  at  you,"  eagerly.  "  Upon  my 
honor.  Let  us  go  over  there  and  sit  on  that  rustic 
seat  a  little  while.  I  feel  so  flattered  that  you  will 
permit  me,  and  that  you  don't  want  Roger." 

"  The  reason  is  n't  complimentary  to  you." 

"I  dare  say  not;  but  you  needn't  remind  me 
of  that." 

"  Let  me  go  first,  then,  and  when  you  come,  you 
must  keep  looking  up." 

Accordingly  Miss  Archer  moved  across  to  the 
rustic  seat,  and  when  she  was  placed,  Mr.  Andreas 
followed,  his  eyes  fixed  obediently  on  the  green 
boughs,  and  his  arms,  hat  in  hand,  groping  broadly 
for  possible  obstacles. 

Betty  gave  an  April  smile  at  his  absurd  ap 
proach. 

"Am  I  warm?"  he  asked,  when  he  was  within 
a  foot  of  her. 

"  Yes,  sit  down ;  and  turn  yo'  cold  shoulder  to 
me,  remember." 


UNDER    THE    WILLOWS.  191 

"  I  think  it  is  very  hard,"  he  complained,  obey 
ing. 

"  You  need  n't  stay,  then,"  she  suggested. 

"  Oh,  I  'm  comfortable  enough,"  he  returned 
hastily.  "  You  would  n't  mind  spreading  out  your 
dress  a  little,  would  you,  so  I  shall  know  you  're 
there  ?  There  are  no  tear-stains  on  that.  Look 
here,  Miss  Archer,"  in  a  different  tone,  "  I  must 
learn  if  your  weeping  had  anything  to  do  with 
my  foolish  hints  the  other  day  over  at  the  post,  — 
about  Roger  and  Miss  Dexter,  you  know." 

"  N-o.     Not  exactly." 

"  It  was  that,  then  !  "  with  conviction.  "  You 
have  been  thinking  about  it  and  making  a  moun 
tain  out  of  a  mole-hill,  and  I  could  kick  myself ! 
I  '11  prick  that  bubble  in  a  minute.  I  '11  tell  you 
all  about  it.  Don  Quixote  Gerard  will  probably 
pink  me,  but  a  man  can  die  but  once,  and  I  'd 
rather  die  for  you  than  anybody,  anyway.  You 
see"  — 

"  Don't  look  at  me  !  "  with  hasty  warning. 

He  turned  back  suddenly.  "  Up  there  at  the 
Pulpit,  one  day  " 

"  You  must  n't  tell  me.     It  is  n't  yo'  secret." 

"  It  won't  be  anybody's,  after  I  've  told  you." 
Andreas  half  laughed,  and  turned  again  toward  her. 

She  whisked  about  in  her  seat.  "  There  !  I  '11 
be  the  one  to  look  away.  Yo'  head  is  on  a  pivot 
that  turns  too  easily." 

"  So  you  admit  turning  my  head,  do  you  ?  " 


192          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Mr.  Andreas,"  she  asked  after  a  short,  thought 
ful  pause,  "  are  you  engaged  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Miss  Archer  !  "  he  returned  to  her  averted 
cheek.  "  This  is  so  sudden  !  " 

She  sighed.     "  Are  you  ?  "  she  repeated. 

"  I  wish  I  were,"  he  answered,  after  a  significant 
pause. 

"  Oh,  excuse  me  !  "  she  said  hastily.  "  I  only 
meant  —  I  only  wanted  —  Mrs.  Archer  takes  such 
an  interest  in  you,  I  thought  she  —  oh,  really,  yo' 
putting  it  that  way  makes  me  feel  right  imperti 
nent.  You  will  forgive  me,  won't  you  ?  "  In  her 
agitation  she  had  almost  turned  her  face  to  him, 
when  she  remembered  and  looked  away. 

"  Yes.  Here 's  my  hand  on  it,"  he  answered, 
with  a  curious  inflection,  and  for  an  instant  her 
hand  lay  in  the  clasp  of  his. 

He  sighed  as  she  withdrew  hers.  "  Yes,  I  'm 
hard  hit,"  he  said. 

"Confess,"  she  returned  with  gentle  archness, 
"yo're  glad  I  broke  the  ice,  so  you  will  dare  to 
talk  to  me  about  her." 

"  No  use,  no  use." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  encouragingly. 

"The  old  story.  She  likes  another  fellow 
better." 

Betty  slowly  looked  around,  forgetfully,  directly 
into  his  face.  Her  eyes,  plaintive  and  reddened, 
stirred  Andreas  to  a  tender  longing. 

"  That  is  dreadful,"  she  said  simply. 


UNDER    THE    WILLOWS.  193 

"Yes,"  he  returned  quietly,  not  to  startle  her. 
"  I  don't  want  you  to  suffer  so,  and  that  is  why 
you  must  let  me  destroy  the  false  idea  I  gave  you 
the  other  day." 

"  Wait  a  minute.  Let  me  think  if  I  ought  to 
let  you  tell  me." 

He  waited,  satisfied  to  sit  and  watch  her  smooth 
brown  hair  and  the  curve  of  her  cheek.  At  last 
she  looked  up  at  him. 

"Oh,  yes!"  She  gave  a  grave  smile.  "My 
eyes!  But  never  mind.  I  think  I'll  hear  that 
story,  please." 

"  Well,  one  day  up  at  the  Pulpit,  Gerard  on  the 
rocks  turned  at  the  sound  of  a  woman's  voice, 
slipped  on  the  weed,  fell,  and  knocked  his  knee-cap 
off.  Woman  was  Miss  Dexter.  She  behaved  like 
Grace  Darling,  —  was  it  ?  Some  kind  ®f  a  Dar 
ling,  anyway.  Managed  to  snap  the  thing  back 
somehow,  got  him  home,  and  brought  the  doctor, 
who  said  Roger  would  have  been  lame  always  ex 
cept  for  what  Miss  Dexter  had  done  for  him." 

"  Was  n't  that  fine  of  her  !  " 

"  Well,  it  was  a  very  efficient  introduction  be 
tween  the  two,  anyway.  Unless  you  are  tired  of 
life,  though,  don't  mention  the  affair  to  the  heroine 
of  it." 

"  Of  co'se  not.  It  must  have  been  a  very  painful 
experience  for  her.  Then  through  his  convales 
cence  she  gave  him  her  beautiful  music." 

"Well,  —  unconsciously,  —  yes,  she  did." 


194         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Betty  looked  off,  and  did  not  speak  for  so  long 
that  curiosity  rent  her  companion  as  to  the  nature 
of  her  thoughts. 

At  last  she  turned  to  him  again.  "  It  is  nearly 
tea-time,  and  I  must  go  in,"  she  said.  "Mr.  An 
dreas,  will  you  ask  me  to  go  to  walk  with  you 
some  time  soon  ?  " 

Russell's  very  ears  reddened  with  pleasure. 
"  Y-yes,"  he  stammered  eagerly.  "  W-will  you  go 
this  evening  ?  There  is  n't  any  moon,  but "  — 

"  We  shan't  need  a  moon,"  answered  Betty, 
smiling. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

MISS  ARCHER'S  CONFIDANT. 

MRS.  ARCHER'S  irritation  of  manner  at  discov 
ering  Nathalie's  absence  had  not  been  lost  on  Mrs. 
Dexter.  Ordinarily,  she  would  not  have  regarded 
it,  considering  such  an  ebullition  too  absurd  to  re 
quire  notice  ;  but  little  straws  continually  blowing 
one  way  since  her  return  from  abroad  had  at  last 
formed  a  fixed  suspicion  in  her  mind. 

Nathalie,  in  recovering  from  the  depressed  phy 
sical  state  in  which  she  had  come  to  Edgewater, 
had  not  at  the  same  time  recovered  her  old  elastic 
spirits.  The  spontaneous  light-heartedness  that 
these  surroundings  would  naturally  evoke  in  a 
girl  was  lacking.  A  persistent  shyness  of  Betty 
Archer  was  one  of  the  features  that  roused  Mrs. 
Dexter's  mental  questionings. 

With  the  intuition  natural  to  a  mother  of  an 
only  child,  she  had  pieced  this  and  that  together 
into  a  theory  which  was  more  likely  to  be  right 
than  wrong ;  and  especially  was  she  convinced  of 
its  correctness  on  this  afternoon,  when  Nathalie 
returned  from  her  kodaking  expedition. 

The  girl's  face  showed  her  fatigue  as  she  entered 
the  room  where  her  mother  was,  and  Mrs.  Dexter, 


196  AfISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

who  had  hitherto  refrained  methodically  from  open 
comment,  now  remarked  it. 

"  You  look  tired  from  your  tramp." 

"  It  is  such  a  long  walk  around  the  fort." 
Nathalie  took  off  her  hat  and  sank  into  a  chair 
with  a  frank  sigh. 

"  Do  you  think  you  succeeded  ?  " 

"  I  can't  be  sure.  The  afternoon  light  is  n't  the 
best  for  some  of  the  views  I  wanted." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  could  go  some  morning?" 

"  It  is  hardly  worth  while  to  make  Mr.  Gerard 
the  trouble  again." 

"  He  was  with  you,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  should  think  he  would  be  thankful  to  you 
for  giving  him  something  to  do." 

"  They  have  enough  to  do  ;  and  what  a  pleasant 
life  it  is!" 

"  Yes,  here  at  this  post  it  certainly  is.  What 
did  you  talk  about  ?  " 

"  Oh,  kodaks,"  Nathalie  smiled  faintly,  —  "  and 
music." 

"I'm  afraid  Mr.  Gerard  wasn't  very  consid 
erate." 

"Of  what?" 

"  Of  your  strength." 

The  girl  regarded  her  mother  almost  compas 
sionately.  "How  little  you  know  him!"  she  re 
turned. 

"  Explain  yourself,"  said  the  mother  lightly ; 
but  she  regarded  her  daughter  closely. 


MISS   ARCHER'S   CONFIDANT.  197 

"  He  is  the  most  thoughtful  man  I  ever  knew." 

"  Happy  Betty  !  "  remarked  Mrs.  Dexter. 

"  Well,  you  knew  she  was  happy,  did  n't  you  ?  " 

The  two  continued  to  look  at  each  other  a  few 
seconds  in  silence. 

"  A  strange  thing  has  come  into  my  mind  to-day, 
Nathalie,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter  at  last.  "  I  think 
Mrs.  Archer  is  a  little  jealous  of  you." 

"I  shouldn't  wonder,"  returned  the  girl  equa 
bly.  "  She  is  capable  of  any  absurdity." 

"  It  is  absurd,  is  n't  it  ?  " 

"  You  brought  me  up  yourself,  mother." 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  hastily.  "  I  did  n't  really 
require  reassurance  so  far  as  you  are  concerned." 

"  I  should  think  not."  The  girl's  tone  was  a 
little  bitter.  "  And  if  you  had  doubted  me,  you 
could  n't  have  doubted  him." 

"  I  don't  know  Mr.  Gerard  so  well  as  you  do. 
He  seems  to  have  won  your  confidence  thoroughly." 

The  girl  did  not  reply. 

"  Nathalie  dear,"  Mrs.  Dexter  spoke  gently  after 
a  moment  that  had  been  long  to  them  both.  "  I 
think  the  time  has  come  for  us  to  go  away." 

"  Because  Mrs.  Archer  is  jealous  of  me  ?  " 

"  That  would  be  reason  enough,  since  your  health 
is  quite  recovered." 

"  But  I  have  a  strong  reason  for  staying,"  re 
turned  the  girl  slowly,  and  the  color  receded  from 
her  face  as  she  looked  steadily  into  her  mother's 
eyes,  "  a  reason  which  swallows  up  Mrs.  Archer's 
whims." 


198  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Mrs.  Dexter  felt  dismayed  at  the  strength  of 
purpose  in  the  young  face. 

"  A  reason  connected  with  Mr.  Gerard  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  My  child  !     What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  If  you  knew  him,  you  could  guess." 

The  mother's  heart  fluttered. 

"  Why  did  you  let  me  bring  you  here  ? "  she 
exclaimed. 

"  I  tried  not  to  come." 

"  Yes,  you  did.  dear.  But  you  were  not  frank 
enough.  How  could  I  know  ?  " 

"  I  did  n't  even  know  myself,  mother.  I  only 
feared,  vaguely." 

They  had  been  sitting  apart ;  but  now  they 
clung  together  in  a  close  embrace. 

Nathalie's  heart  smote  her  as  she  felt  her 
mother's  tremulous  arms.  There  was  something 
wild  in  Mrs.  Dexter's  soft  tone  as  she  suddenly 
lifted  herself  erect.  "  But  why  not  go  at  once  ?  " 

"  A  week  ago  I  should  have  consented  gladly ; 
but  now  it  is  too  late."  The  voice,  sounding  so 
suddenly  mature,  increased  the  older  woman's 
agitation. 

"  What  can  you  mean  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  panic- 
stricken.  "  We  are  not  thieves !  " 

Nathalie  smiled  again,  and  shook  her  head. 
"  Poor  little  mother,  you  don't  know  him,"  she 
said.  "  No ;  I  have  thought  it  all  out  at  last. 
After  the  tangle  and  the  fever  my  thoughts  have 


MISS   ARCHER'S    CONFIDANT.  199 

been  in  so  long,  I  see  the  way  at  last.  If  I  should 
go  away  now,  it  seems  to  me  I  should  suffer  all  my 
life.  I  must  stay  here  and  live  it  down.  I  must 
grow  well  acquainted  with  Betty.  I  must  give 
him  to  her.  I  must  see  them  together.  When  I 
think  of  him,  I  must  think  of  her  too.  I  must  be 
happy  in  it.  It  is  my  only  chance." 

"  But,"  faltered  Mrs.  Dexter,  "  how  about  him  ? 
I  have  imagined  sometimes  —  and  thoughts  are  so 
strong,  he  may  feel  yours,  and  you  are  a  charm 
ing  girl "  —  She  stopped,  breathless  with  painful 
feeling.  . 

"  Mother,  do  you  remember  Sir  Galahad  ?  You 
remember,  his 

'  strength  was  as  the  strength  of  ten, 
Because  his  heart  was  pure.' 

Those  are  the  lines  always  running  through  my 
mind.  I  cannot  hurt  him.  I  would  not  hurt  him. 
But  if  I  leave  him  now,  I  shall  mourn  for  him,  — 
I  shall  long  for  him,"  the  steady  voice  suddenly 
broke  in  a  sort  of  sob,  "  I  think  I  should  die  for 
him." 

"  Oh,  darling,  darling  !  "  protested  the  mother. 

'  He  who  fights  and  runs  away '  "  — 

"  No ;  trust  me.  Give  me  a  fortnight.  It  is 
for  my  life.  Then  if  I  have  not  made  progress,  I 
will  be  honest  with  you  and  I  will  go." 

The  girl  looked  at  her  mother  with  eyes  that 
seemed  to  see  far  beyond  her.  She  went  on  in  a 
hushed  tone. 


200          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  I  suppose  I  cannot  comfort  you  for  this.  I 
cannot  make  you  believe  how  far  rather  I  would 
have  known  him  and  loved  him  than  to  have  been 
safe  and  calm  and  happy  in  ignorance  of  him." 

Mrs.  Dexter  had  regained  her  self-control. 
"Yes,  I  do  believe  it,"  she  answered,  "but  it  is 
an  affliction  that  has  come  to  us  all  the  same. 
Pray  that  you  may  not  steal  from  Betty,  even  in 
thought ;  and  if  I  were  in  your  place,  while  I 
prayed  to  be  delivered  from  temptation,  I  should 
help  Heaven  by  taking  the  train  away  from  this 
beguiling  Eden." 

"  It  has  been  anything  but  an  Eden  to  me ! " 
exclaimed  Nathalie.  "The  steed  is  stolen  now, 
mother.  It  is  no  use  to  lock  the  door.  Let  me 
try  what  seems  to  me  the  only  hope." 

"  God  bless  and  help  you,  then,  dear." 

When  the  family  met  at  tea,  Betty's  face  was 
flushed  from  her  interview  under  the  willows,  and 
Russell  Andreas  talked  fast  to  draw  the  attention 
of  the  company  upon  himself. 

To  Nathalie,  grown  sensitive,  it  seemed  that  per 
haps  Betty's  preoccupation  might  result  from  the 
fact  of  her  own  excursion  with  Gerard.  It  was 
more  than  probable  that  Mrs.  Archer  had  been  say 
ing  waspish  things.  Miss  Dexter  was  well  enough 
aware  of  her  own  ungracious  habit  toward  the  sweet 
Southern  girl,  and  felt  in  haste  to  do  away  with 
the  impression  in  that  new  programme  which  she 
had  laid  out  for  herself. 


MISS   ARCHER'S    CONFIDANT.  201 

But  her  self-command  was  shaken.  She  could 
not  at  once  react  from  the  breaking  down  of  all 
reserves  of  the  last  hour,  and  she  answered  Russell 
almost  in  monosyllables  when  he  appealed  to  her 
in  the  course  of  conversation. 

"  She  could  n't  be  any  more  grouchy  if  she  knew 
what  I  had  been  telling  you,"  he  murmured  to 
Betty,  as  they  followed  Miss  Dexter  up  the  steps 
of  the  gallery  after  tea. 

"  I  think  she  is  n't  feeling  well,"  returned  Betty. 
"  I  'm  afraid  Roger  made  you  walk  too  far,"  she 
said,  approaching  Nathalie  and  taking  a  chair  be 
side  her.  "  You  look  tired." 

The  kindness  of  her  tone  caused  Nathalie  to  turn 
gratefully  toward  her. 

"  One  always  walks  so  much  farther  than  one 
realizes  when  tempted  on  by  a  kodak,  don't  you  think 
so  ?  "  and  the  responsiveness  of  manner  thrown  into 
the  commonplace  rejoinder  made  Betty  wonder. 
She  little  suspected  that  Miss  Dexter  had  thawed 
toward  her  once  and  for  all  in  the  sunshine  of 
what  she  was  striving  to  make  an  unselfish  love. 

"  I  shall  have  a  fine  panorama,  though,  of  For 
tress  Monroe,"  Nathalie  went  on,  "  and  I  think  I 
secured  some  very  good  pictures  of  Mr.  Gerard 
which  you  will  like  to  have.  I  will  give  you  the 
films,  too,  so  you  can  have  as  many  printed  as  you 
like.  Perhaps  you  will  think  it  worth  while  to 
have  one  enlarged.  After  all,  provided  it  is  a  for 
tunate  picture,  there  is  no  likeness  so  correct  as 


202  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

what  one  catches  with  the  kodak.  Don't  you  think 
that  is  true,  Mr.  Andreas  ?  " 

Russell  did  think  so,  quite  eagerly;  and  the 
three  young  people  talked  the  subject  threadbare 
in  the  desire  of  each  to  respond  to  the  cordiality  of 
the  other. 

Gerard  found  them  thus  when  he  looked  in  for 
his  evening  visit.  He  pressed  Betty's  hand  as  he 
sat  down  beside  her,  for  he  still  felt  sore  over  that 
late  altercation  concerning  the  sketch  of  Nathalie, 
and  thought  that  she  might  feel  so  too. 

"  Are  we  going  to  have  any  music  ?  "  he  asked 
at  last,  turning  radiant,  questioning  eyes  toward 
Miss  Dexter. 

"  No,  no,"  interposed  Betty.  "  You  tired  Miss 
Nathalie  out  this  afternoon.  I  'm  sure  she  does  n't 
feel  like  playing.  It  is  too  much  to  ask." 

"  Playing  does  n't  tire  me,"  said  Nathalie  unde 
cidedly.  The  new  humility  of  her  manner  struck 
Miss  Archer  afresh. 

"  I  don't  believe  you  have  practiced  much  to-day," 
suggested  Gerard. 

"  I  have  not,  indeed." 

"  That 's  right,"  said  Andreas  audaciously.  "  You 
play  to  Gerard,  Miss  Nathalie,  while  Miss  Archer 
Archer  takes  me  to  walk." 

Instead  of  laughingly  resenting  this  slight  as  she 
would  have  done  yesterday,  Nathalie  looked  from 
one  to  the  other  in  hesitating  silence. 

"  How  impertinent  you  are  !  "  exclaimed  Betty, 


MISS   ARCHER'S   CONFIDANT.  203 

vexed  with  Andreas  for  thus  clumsily  carrying  out 
her  wish. 

"  Well,  if  you  are  going  to  play  Sousa  or  Strauss, 
I  want  to  stay,  Miss  Dexter ;  but  you  know  I  'in 
awfully  earthy.  You  don't  want  to  cast  pearls  of 
melody  before  me,  do  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  take  him  away,  Betty,"  said  Gerard,  smil 
ing  at  the  plaintive  voice  in  which  Russell  knew  so 
well  how  to  make  his  humility  effective. 

"  Very  well,  Miss  Dexter,"  said  the  girl,  rising, 
"  but  remember  you  owe  me  compensation  for  this. 
I  decline  to  admit  that  ma  musical  ear  is  that 
material  which  is  unsuitable  for  silk  purses  !  " 

Nathalie  watched  them  go  down  the  steps  with  a 
thoughtful  face.  "  What  a  sweet,  lovely,  unselfish 
girl  Miss  Archer  is !  "  she  said  deliberately.  "  My 
admiration  for  her  is  growing  beyond  bounds." 

"  You  are  entirely  right,"  replied  the  lieutenant, 
"  but  I  did  n't  know  you  had  discovered  so  much. 
To  tell  the  truth,  Betty  does  n't  consider  herself 
a  favorite  with  you." 

"  I  think  I  have  been  slow  in  waking  up  to  her. 
She  is  the  sort  of  girl  who  can  be  imposed  upon. 
I  fear  she  is  being  imposed  upon  now.  She  has 
not  seen  you  all  day." 

"  Oh,  they  will  be  back  soon.  Meanwhile,  if 
you  are  not  too  tired  —  Did  I  let  you  get  too  tired 
to-day?"  Something  fluttered  in  Nathalie's  breast 
at  his  tone. 

"  No,  not  at  all,"  she  answered  brusquely,  as  she 
rose.  "  Certainly,  I  will  play." 


204         MISS  ARCHES  ARCHER. 

And  very  miserable  she  was,  sitting  there  at  the 
piano,  her  trained  fingers  running  crisply  over  the 
keys,  while  Gerard  sat  close  at  her  elbow ;  for  her 
mother  passed  through  the  room  more  than  once, 
and  Nathalie  knew  she  could  not  help  misreading 
the  situation. 

Meanwhile,  Betty  was  strolling  under  the  fes 
tooned  lace  of  the  locust-trees  and  reproaching  her 
tall  cavalier. 

"  Well,  what  was  the  use  of  beating  about  the 
bush?"  he  argued  mildly.  "Miss  Dexter  is 
wrapped  in  the  spirit  of  her  music  the  minute 
she  gets  into  it,  and  Roger  is  up  in  a  balloon  with 
her.  You  wanted  to  speak  to  me,  and  —  er  —  I 
wanted  to  have  you,  so  here  we  are ;  and  we  're 
all  happy,  are  n't  we  ?  "  The  strong  curves  of  the 
speaker's  mouth,  the  very  set  of  his  head  on  his 
shoulders,  betokened  his  own  satisfaction.  Betty's 
hand  lay  lightly  on  his  arm,  for  it  was  a  clouded, 
soft,  dark  evening. 

"  Yes,"  returned  Betty,  after  a  little  silence ; 
"  Roger  is  satisfied  now,  but  I  'm  expecting  every 
day  that  his  satisfaction  will  change  to  anxiety." 

"  I  've  been  studying  you  and  Gerard  ever  since 
I  came  here,"  returned  Andreas,  "  and  if  you  think 
that  is  impertinence,  I  shall  defend  myself.  People 
always  have  a  right  to  try  to  guess  enigmas,  and  it 
seems  in  this  case  to  the  interested  spectator  as  if 
you  two  tried  to  be  enigmatical.  That  last  speech 
of  yours,  now !  What  is  an  unsophisticated  indi- 


MISS  ARCHERS   CONFIDANT.  205 

vidual,  traveling  in  the  interests  of  the  insurance 
business,  to  understand  by  it  ?  " 

"  We  're  not  the  least  enigmatical.  I  came  out 
on  purpose  to  explain  the  situation  to  you,  because 
I  reckon  you  can  help  us." 

And  Betty  proceeded  to  tell  the  story  of  her  own 
and  Gerard's  childhood  and  youth. 

"  Then  you  are  not  absolutely  engaged  ?  "  said 
Andreas  as  she  paused ;  and  there  was  a  tone  in 
his  voice  that  assured  his  companion  that  her  nar 
rative  had  not  fallen  upon  indifferent  ears. 

"  We  always  expected  to  be  married  —  until  — 
until  —  now." 

"  And  why  not  now  ?  I  suppose  you  permit  me 
to  ask  leading  questions." 

"  Yes ;  but  I  wonder  if  you  do  not  see  why." 

"  Upon  my  soul  I  don't.  I  'm  sorry  to  be 
dense." 

"  Well,  perhaps  it  is  rather  too  much  to  expect 
you  to  discover  it  before  Roger  does.  He  looks 
forward  to  our  marriage  still." 

Andreas's  face  took  on  a  startled  expression 
there  in  the  darkness.  "  Miss  Archer,  you  are  n't 
going  to  give  me  the  task  of  breaking  some  over 
whelming  news  to  Gerard?" 

"  No,"  returned  the  girl  quietly.  "  I  'm  not  the 
one  whose  feelings  change  the  plan." 

"  Then  you  believe  that  Roger  "  — 

"  Yes,  I  'm  sure  that  Roger  " 

"  Oh,  impossible  !     Why,  there  is  n't  anybody !  " 


206  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

excitedly.  "  I  know  all  about  his  affairs.  I  've 
been  around  with  him  over  at  the  post.  I've 
heard  him  discuss  people." 

"  Oh,  nearer  home,  nearer  home,"  sighed  Betty, 
smiling  at  the  impetuous  tone. 

"  What  ?  —  Miss  Dexter  ?  Miss  Archer,  I  shall 
never  forgive  myself.  All  this  arises  from  my 
nonsense.  It  has  given  you  days  of  unhappiness. 
It  has  been  a  deep  wrong  to  Roger.  I  'm  simply 
no  end  ashamed.  Do  let  me  assure  you  "  — 

"  Hush !  Wait.  Your  stor^  merely  threw 
some  light  on  the  subject.  I'm  sure  about  this 
affair,  Mr.  Andreas,  and  it  is  nobody's,  nobody's 
fault.  I  suppose  you  think  it  right  strange  that  I 
talk  to  you  about  it,"  she  added  after  a  silence, 
"  but  —  I  'm  a  very  lonely  girl." 

Russell  feared  she  would  feel  the  unsteadiness 
of  the  arm  on  which  her  hand  lay. 

"  You  honor  me,"  he  answered  quickly.  "  I 
thank  you." 

"  Since  you  know  Roger  so  well,  you  can  under 
stand  how  unwilling  he  will  be  to  seek  his  own 
happiness.  His  loyalty  and  unselfishness  will 
make  his  feeling  for  Miss  Dexter  misery  to  him 
when  he  wakes  up  to  it.  Another  trouble  is  that 
Mrs.  Archer  will  not  want  to  let  him  off,  and- 
I'm  so  helpless  to  influence  her,  or  control  her 
speech !  " 

As  she  spoke,  there  came  over  poor  Betty  the 
remembrance  of  her  stepmother's  heartless  tirade 


MISS   ARCHER'S    CONFIDANT.  207 

to  herself  during  the  afternoon,  and  a  hunted  sen 
sation  oppressed  her. 

"  There  is  no  one  —  no  one  I  can  appeal  to,"  she 
said  piteously.  "  Dear  Mrs.  Dexter  is  so  good  to 
me,  but  about  this  I  must  be  silent  to  her.  I  must 
think  for  Roger,  and  help  him  to  resist  both  Mrs. 
Archer  and  himself ;  and  you  being  his  best 
friend,  you  see  why  I  turn  to  you." 

"  I  was  never  thoroughly  convinced  before  that 
my  life  was  worth  living,"  said  Andreas,  deeply 
moved. 

"  Ah  !  You  have  yo'  own  troubles !  "  returned 
the  girl  gently.  "  How  I  wish  I  could  help  you !  " 

Andreas  was  silent.  To  him  she  seemed  an 
angel.  He  was  longing  to  speak  further,  but  felt 
tongue-tied.  He  did  not  doubt  (because  he  wished 
so  much  that  he  might)  that  she  loved  Roger ;  and 
a  new  awe  and  timidity  changed  this  assured  man 
who  had  become  a  lover,  beyond  his  own  recogni 
tion. 

"  It  is  very  fortunate  fo'  me,"  she  went  on,  with 
evident  diffidence,  "  that  you  told  me  what  you  did 
this  afternoon.  You  implied  that  you  were  in 
love." 

"  God  knows  I  am." 

"  You  did  n't  know  how  much  you  did  fo'  me, 
Mr.  Andreas,  by  confessing  it.  It  makes  it  possi 
ble  fo'  me  to  mention  to  you  a  most  embarrassing 
feature  of  this  situation." 

The  breeze,  odorous  with  the  breath  of  the  lo 
cust,  cooled  the  girl's  hot  cheeks. 


208  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  This  is  dreadful,"  she  went  on  hurriedly,  "  but 
I  don't  dare  to  have  you  not  understand." 

"  Tell  me  all  you  will,"  said  Andreas  earnestly. 
"  Your  least  word  shall  be  sacred  to  me." 

"  You  are  so  kind  !  Well,  you  have  seen  a  good 
deal  of  Mrs.  Archer.  You  have  formed  an  opin 
ion  of  her,  perhaps." 

"  A  worldly,  ambitious  woman.  You  pardon 
me  ?  This  is  a  time  for  absolute  frankness,  as 
I  understand  it." 

"  It  is.  You  see  how  she  values  you.  You  rep 
resent  to  her  all  she  cares  fo'  most.  Well,"  —  a 
strained  pause,  —  "  it  is  very  hard  to  say  it,  but  if 
you  cared  fo'  me,  and  I  would  return  your  feeling, 
she  would  let  poor  Roger  go.  She  has  had  the 
cruelty  to  declare  it." 

Their  pace  grew  slower  in  the  girl's  agitated 
speech,  and  here  they  paused ;  her  hand  dropped 
from  Andreas's  arm,  and  they  faced  each  other. 
"  You  see,"  she  hastened  on,  "  what  will  be  likely 
to  come  when  she  knows  that  I  have  determined 
on  giving  Roger  up.  You  have  saved  me  untold 
humiliation.  She  would  stop  at  nothing.  She 
would  try  to  win  you.  I  should  be  driven  to  run 
away,  or  to  throw  myself  in  the  water,  only  that 
you  have  given  me  a  weapon.  I  can  now  tell  her 
plainly  that  which  will  render  even  her  helpless. 
I  shall  tell  her  :  '  Mr.  Andreas  loves  some  one  ! ' 

But  here  vague  fears  of  her  future  which  she 
could  not  hint  to  him,  suddenly  pressing  upon  the 


MISS  ARCHER'S   CONFIDANT.  209 

speaker,  her  forced  courage  gave  way,  and  her 
voice  went  with  it.  With  a  quick  motion  she  hid 
her  face  in  her  hands. 

Andreas  shivered  through  all  his  big  frame  in 
the  longing  that  seized  him  to  gather  her  in  his 
arms  ;  but  his  love  had  leaped  to  a  strength  which 
enabled  him  not  to  touch  her. 

"  Yes,  she  cannot  hurt  you  in  that  way  now,"  he 
answered ;  and  his  voice  sounded  cold  to  his  own 
ears. 

The  girl's  brief  spasm  of  feeling  passed,  and  she 
looked  up  at  him  again. 

"  It  is  an  unspeakable  relief  to  have  talked  this 
out  with  you,"  she  said.  "  To-morrow  I  shall 
wonder  how  I  dared ;  but  it  is  done." 

"  And  well  done.  No  woman  ever  had  a  more 
obedient  ally  than  I  will  be  to  you." 

They  strolled  on  for  another  half-hour,  and 
Betty  gave  him  the  points  on  which  she  wished 
him  to  dwell  in  his  interviews  with  Gerard  which 
were  pretty  certain  to  ensue.  Among  these  points 
she  of  course  emphasized  the  fact  that  the  affec 
tion  between  them  had  never  been  other  than  of  a 
fraternal  nature,  —  a  bit  of  information  which 
Russell  accepted  without  in  the  least  believing  it, 
so  far  as  she  was  concerned. 

"You  see,"  she  remarked  at  last,  when  they 
were  nearing  home,  "  it  will  be  so  difficult  to  con 
vince  Roger  that  I  'm  not  so  lonely  as  to  need  him. 
Ma  unsupported  word  will  not  do.  I  want  you  to 


210         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

repeat  to  him  that  I  say  I  'm  so  much  attached  to 
art  that  marriage  would  be  a  questionable  good  fo' 
me,  anyway.  He  knows  how  many  times  I  've  put 
off  the  consideration  of  our  wedding." 

Hardly  were  these  words  spoken  when  the  two 
came  into  the  light  of  the  main  entrance  to  Edge- 
water.  There  they  suddenly  encountered  Gerard 
himself.  He  paused  with  some  disconnected 
phrases,  and  his  face  was  white  in  the  artificial 
brightness. 

"  You  look  like  a  sleep-walker,  man,"  said  An 
dreas,  forcing  a  jocose  manner.  "  I  suppose  you 
are  still  following  in  spirit  the  erratic  wanderings 
of  Somebody-owski." 

"  It  was  —  very  beautiful.  I  hope  you  've  been 
—  yes,  enjoyed  yourselves.  Good-night." 

Russell  and  Betty  looked  at  each  other  in  silence 
for  a  minute  after  he  had  hurried  away  to  catch  an 
alleged  car,  whose  approach  was  not  yet  audible  to 
the  ordinary  ear. 

Andreas  was  puzzled.  "  Why,  he  seemed  dis 
tracted  !  Do  you  think  he  was  offended  by  our 
staying  so  long?"  he  asked. 

"  Ho,"  returned  the  girl  quietly.  "  Did  n't  you 
see?  The  time  has  come.  He  has  waked  up. 
Poor  Roger !  Oh,  Mr.  Andreas,"  —  her  voice 
suddenly  broke,  and  she  stretched  out  her  hand,  — 
"  you  will  help  me  ?  " 

He  took  the  hand,  and  after  a  second's  hesitation 
bowed  his  head  and  kissed  it.  "  I  am  yours,"  he 
answered. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

A   BICYCLE    RIDE. 

NATHALIE  hastened  to  her  room  to  find  her 
mother  after  Gerard  had  left  that  evening. 

"  Don't  distrust  me,  mother  !  Don't  be  anxious !  " 
she  exclaimed.  "It  just  happened  that  we  were 
left  alone.  It  was  Mr.  Andreas's  fault.  He  took 
Betty  away." 

Mrs.  Dexter's  thick  gray  hair  was  hanging  long 
about  her  shoulders  as  she  sat  before  her  dressing- 
table  preparing  for  bed. 

"  I  see  you  playing  with  fire,  and  you  ask  me 
not  to  be  anxious,"  she  said  sadly. 

"  I  thought  I  had  explained  it  all  to  you,  and 
that  you  had  agreed  to  give  me  two  weeks." 

Mother  and  child  looked  at  each  other.  The 
girl's  eyes  were  luminous  from  the  excitement  of 
the  evening's  music  and  talk. 

"  But  is  there  no  danger  to  him  in  all  this  ?  " 

"  Such  a  thought  is  surely  needless  misery," 
returned  Nathalie.  "  That  attachment  has  grown 
with  his  growth,  and  is  a  part  of  his  very  soul." 
She  regarded  her  mother  for  half  a  minute  in  des 
perate  silence.  "  This  is  something  we  can't  dis 
cuss  more,"  she  said  at  last.  "  Neither  can  I  bear, 


212          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

in  addition  to  everything  else,  the  feeling  that  you 
are  disapproving  of  me.  Either  trust  me  and  let 
me  see  if  I  can  win  peace,  or  let  us  go  away  to 
morrow." 

Mrs.  Dexter's  heart  sank  at  facing  the  alterna 
tive. 

"  But  if  you  are  worse  off  in  two  weeks,  what 
then?" 

"  I  shall  not  be.  I  am  not  the  first  who  has  been 
forced  to  love  against  her  will.  I  can  live  it  down 
if  only,"  —  she  hesitated,  —  "  if  only  I  can  have  a 
little  time  to  regard  them  in  this  new  light." 

"  But  if  he  should  be  drawn  to  you  ?  Forgive 
me,  dear.  I  am  your  mother,  and  it  seems  a 
danger." 

"  He !  You  don't  know  him.  He  is  like  a 
knight  of  old.  That  is  impossible." 

"  Then  take  your  fortnight."  Mrs.  Dexter  sighed 
as  she  turned  back  to  her  mirror. 

If  Betty's  surmise  was  correct,  and  Gerard  had 
awakened  to  a  change  of  heart,  the^  question  to 
solve  next  was  if  Miss  Dexter  guessed  it.  Obser 
vation  less  acute  than  Miss  Archer's  would  have 
noticed  the  alteration  that  a  day  had  brought  forth 
in  Nathalie's  manner  toward  herself. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  a  cat  who  was  planning  to 
steal  cream  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Archer  of  her  daughter 
at  the  first  opportunity.  "  That 's  Miss  Nathalie 
Dexter !  She  can't  come  around  me  with  any  of 
her  palaver.  I  've  cut  both  my  eye-teeth." 


A   BICYCLE   RIDE.  213 

"  Miss  Dexter  strikes  me  as  one  of  the  most 
honest  girls  I  ever  met,"  replied  Betty.  "  She 
seems  to  like  me  better  lately." 

"  How  lately  ?  From  about  the  time  she  spent 
the  afternoon  with  Roger  at  the  post,  is  n't  it  ? 
Oh,  that  girl  is  deep.  But  she  won't  make  any 
thing.  I  'm  on  the  lookout." 

Betty  was  painting,  and  her  heart  was  full  of 
her  problem  and  apprehension  of  her  stepmother's 
actions.  But  the  dove  had  attained  some  of  the 
serpent's  subtlety. 

"  I  hope  you  are  n't  going  to  say  or  do  anything 
to  spoil  our  pleasure  just  as  Mr.  Andreas  is  going 
to  have  a  little  more  time  to  himself,"  she  said 
innocently. 

The  magic  name  showed  its  checking  effect  on 
the  angry  woman  at  once.  "Mr.  Andreas,"  she 
repeated.  "  Has  he  anything  to  do  with  the  case  ? 
I  noticed  you  went  to  walk  with  him  last  evening 
—  leaving  the  cat  with  the  cream!"  she  finished 
spitefully. 

"  Yes ;  there  are  just  four  of  us  now,  and  of 
course,  if  you  choose  to  make  it  disagreeable,  Miss 
Dexter  will  go  away  "  — 

"  And  I  tell  you,  you  could  n't  hire  her  to  go 
away." 

"  What  is  to  prevent  her  going  to  the  Hygeia,  — 
especially  if  yo'  suspicions  are  correct  ?  " 

For  once  Mrs.  Archer  was  silenced.  She  had 
not  thought  of  this  obvious  move  which  would  give 


214          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Nathalie  unrivaled  opportunities  for  pursuing  her 
nefarious  operations  secure  from  criticism. 

"  Of  course,  it 's  much  pleasanter  fo'  Koger  and 
Mr.  Andreas  to  have  both  of  us  here." 

Mrs.  Archer  fanned  herself  violently,  and  indeed 
her  face  looked  as  if  she  needed  cooling. 

"Very  well;  but  I  shall  watch.  After  your 
mad  declaration  of  an  intention  to  hand  Roger 
over  to  the  first  rival  who  wants  him,  I  naturally 
feel  a  duty  in  the  matter.  I  give  you  fair  warn 
ing,  Betty,  I  expect  you  to  marry  this  year.  It 
will  be  your  own  fault  if  you  don't." 

Betty  began  to  hum  a  popular  cockney  song  as 
she  bent  over  her  work  :  — 

" '  If  you  dies  an  old  maid, 

You  have  only  yourself  to  blame! ' 5: 

This  levity  grated  upon  Mrs.  Archer.  "You 
are  n't  in  a  position  where  you  have  a  right  to  play 
fast  and  loose,"  she  went  on.  "  As  I  say,  I  don't 
insist  upon  coercing  your  affections."  When  the 
speaker  assumed  this  tone  of  lofty  virtue,  her  step 
daughter  was  always  seized  with  a  wild  desire  to 
laugh.  "If  you  find  that  Mr.  Andreas  is  more 
suited  to  you  than  your  childhood's  comrade,  I  shall 
stand  right  by  you,  Betty,  never  fear." 

"  And  the  cat  can  have  the  cream,  I  suppose," 
remarked  the  girl,  with  a  demure  composure  so 
provoking  that  Mrs.  Archer  looked  at  her  with  a 
return  of  exasperation. 


A   BICYCLE   RIDE.  215 

"  When  you  are  as  old  as  I  am,  you  will  find 
that  life  is  n't  such  a  good  joke  as  you  think  it  is," 
and  she  flounced  out  of  the  room. 

Betty  wondered  if  she  were  very  cowardly  thus 
to  use  Mr.  Andreas  as  a  bait  instead  of  frankly 
avowing  at  once  that  he  was  out  of  the  question. 
And  as  she  wondered,  a  little  perplexed  line  came 
in  her  forehead,  and  moisture  in  her  eyes  blurred 
the  violet  empire  gown  in  which  her  painted  girl 
was  aesthetically  arrayed ;  for  Betty  was  not  find 
ing  life  a  very  good  joke. 

"May  I  come  in?"  asked  Nathalie,  suddenly 
darkening  the  window.  The  artist  winked  away 
her  tears  and  glanced  up  with  a  cordial  nod.  "  If 
you  are  sure  it  won't  annoy  you  to  let  me  watch 
you  paint  a  little  while.  I  do  enjoy  it  so  much." 

"  Then  come  ;  and  you  will  have  to  let  me  watch 
you  play  in  return." 

"Very  gladly."  Nathalie  came  in  and  took  a 
chair  by  the  painting-table.  "The  weeks  down 
here  have  flown  away,  and  I  have  n't  become  nearly 
well  enough  acquainted  with  you.  I  'm  just  wak 
ing  up  to  what  I  have  missed.  You  have  cap 
tured  my  mother's  heart,  as  I  suppose  you  know, 
and  I  'm  not  going  to  slight  my  privileges  any 
longer." 

This  would  have  been  a  paralyzing  speech  from 
the  cold  Miss  Dexter  of  a  week  ago.  It  was  suf 
ficiently  astonishing  now.  Betty  seemed  to  see  the 
apparition  of  Roger's  pale  and  abstracted  look  last 


216  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

evening,  as  he  was  caught  off  his  guard  in  the 
sudden  light. 

"  The  cat  and  the  cream."  She  wondered  how 
Gerard  would  enjoy  that  simile.  "  Well,  does  n't 
the  cream  of  a  class  rise  to  the  top,  and  did  n't 
Roger  graduate  nearly  at  the  head  of  his  ?  "  Fan 
tastic  thoughts  raced  through  the  girl's  mind  be 
fore  she  looked  up  at  her  companion. 

What  honest,  earnest  eyes  were  regarding  her ! 
There  was  nothing  feline  in  their  expression.  Had 
they  read  Roger's  soul?  Betty  wondered.  She 
would  have  been  more  than  human  if  nothing  of 
resentment  and  suspicion  had  risen  in  her  now  to  be 
conquered.  For  conquered  they  must  be.  If  it 
was  a  part  of  Nathalie's  plan  to  win  Betty  Archer's 
friendship,  it  was  none  the  less  Betty's  design  to 
meet  her  more  than  halfway  in  every  overture. 

"  I  was  a  misanthrope  when  I  came  here,"  went 
on  Nathalie  when  her  companion  had  responded, 
"but  Edgewater  must  be  a  specific  for  misan 
thropy,  and  all  unworthy  feelings.  Whether  I  was 
looking  at  the  humming-birds,  or  picking  roses,  or 
watching  the  magnolia  buds  swell,  or  sitting  out  in 
the  pavilion,  reading,  I  used  to  be  conscious  all  the 
time  that  it  was  quite  an  undertaking  to  live  up  to 
Edgewater." 

"  I  never  thought  of  the  place  in  the  light  of  a 
sermon." 

"Perhaps  you  were  never  so  tired  and  bad  as 
I  was  when  I  came.  You  know  the  enemy  does 


A   BICYCLE   RIDE.  217 

steal  a  march  on  you  when  you  are  tired.  But  in 
this  nest  I  have  recovered  ray  balance.  Did  you 
ever  think  how  odd  it  is  that  such  a  peaceful  spot 
should  be  so  surrounded  with  the  discipline  of  mili 
tary  life?  I  heard  taps  four  times  last  evening, 
the  air  grew  so  very  still." 

Betty  smiled.  "Fortress  Monroe,  the  war 
ships,  the  Soldiers'  Home,  and  Hampton.  Yes,  I 
was  brought  up  on  martial  calls  of  one  kind  and 
another.  Speaking  of  the  military,  didn't  Koger 
hurry  away  rather  early  last  evening?  Mr.  An 
dreas  and  I  didn't  realize  that  we  stayed  out  so 
very  long." 

"  Perhaps  he  left  in  dread  of  a  musical  indiges 
tion,"  replied  Nathalie.  "  I  fear  we  playing-folk 
are  more  difficult  to  stop  than  we  are  to  start.  I 
was  telling  him  the  musical  story  of  the  Lenore 
Symphony  as  Raff  gives  it.  I  played  snatches  of 
it  as  well  as  I  could,  and  filled  in  the  rest  with 
description.  You  know  it  is  a  very  moving,  excit 
ing  thing  "  — 

"No,  no,  I  don't.  Poor  Roger  will  have  a 
famine  when  you  are  gone." 

"  He  will  need  the  rest,  probably ;  but  how  ap 
preciative  he  is !  When  I  played  him  the  love 
motive,  and  showed  him  how  it  was  intertwined 
with  the  danger  and  pain  that  come  afterward,  he 
really  did  n't  seem  able  to  bear  any  more.  He  got 
up  and  walked  about,  and  at  last  left,  asking  me 
to  finish  next  time." 


218  if  188   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Color  crept  slowly  up  into  Betty's  cheeks  as  she 
nodded  without  lifting  her  eyes  from  her  work. 

"  I  'm  not  sure,"  went  on  Nathalie  frankly,  "  but 
that  I  bored  him  a  little,  I  was  so  carried  away  by 
the  subject ;  but  he  will  forgive  me  when  he  hears 
the  Symphony  performed  by  a  good  orchestra. 
Won't  you,  Mr.  Gerard?"  she  added,  smiling,  for 
here  the  lieutenant  came  into  the  room. 

"  Yes.  What  is  it  ?  "  he  responded,  and  Betty 
looked  him  a  scrutinizing  welcome. 

The  brightness  of  his  expression  and  the  fresh 
ness  of  his  military  toilet  could  not  cover  the  fa 
tigue  that  showed  about  his  eyes.  Anxiety,  added 
to  sleeplessness,  had  left  those  traces. 

"  Did  you  dream  of  the  horse  that  galloped  by 
night?"  asked  Nathalie. 

"  Why  don't  you  ask  him  plainly  if  he  had  the 
nightmare  ?  "  suggested  Betty. 

"  I  did  n't  dare  to  go  to  sleep  at  all,  for  fear  I 
should  dream  of  skeletons  and  an  open  grave  wait 
ing  to  engulf  true  love,"  answered  Gerard.  "  Well, 
Betty,  how  does  it  go  this  morning  ?  Make  the 
most  of  your  time,  for  you  must  go  out  on  the 
wheel  with  me  soon." 

"  Very  well.  You  and  Miss  Nathalie  go  down 
to  the  pavilion  and  wait  for  me.  I  '11  call  for  you 
when  I  'm  ready." 

"  Oh,  but  you  said  I  might  watch  you !  " 

"  Oh,  I  want  to  watch  you !  "  came  from  the  two 
with  such  hasty  unanimity  that  Betty  smiled  at 
her  violet  girl. 


A   BICYCLE   RIDE.  219 

"  Poor  things !  How  scared  they  are  !  "  she 
thought. 

At  this  moment  Russell  Andreas  presented 
himself  at  the  open  window  and  looked  at  the 
group. 

"  Well !  "  he  ejaculated  aggrievedly.  "  Gibson 
ought  to  sketch  us  in  one  of  his  conundrum  groups, 
with  the  legend :  '  Find  the  man  who  is  out  of  it ! ' 
I  don't  want  to  be  hypercritical,  but  it  does  seem 
to  me,  Miss  Archer  Archer,  that  typical  Southern 
hospitality  must  be  dying  out." 

"  Oh,  I  suppose  you  can  come  in." 

"I  suppose  I  can,  too  —  the  window-sill  is 
rather  low ;  but  I  suppose  I  won't  unless  I  'm  suf 
ficiently  urged.  Leaving  guests  to  themselves  and 
not  hampering  them  with  attentions  is  all  very 
well ;  but  when  it  comes  to  chilling  neglect "  — 

"How  can  I  work  with  you  all  bothering?"  pro 
tested  the  artist. 

"You  don't  call  that  work,  do  you?"  asked 
Andreas,  seating  himself  on  the  window-sill  and 
lowering  his  head  to  obtain  a  view  of  the  bolting- 
cloth  girl. 

"  That 's  nice  !  I  can't  see  a  thing !  "  ejaculated 
Betty,  gazing  up  into  a  face  that  women  found 
good  to  look  at. 

"  Then,  naturally,  ask  me  in,"  he  suggested, 
smiling  at  her.  "  I  should  think  you  might  see 
how  uncomfortable  I  am,  doubled  up  here  like  a 
jackknife,  all  for  the  sake  of  worshiping  art.  I 


220         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

adore  art.  As  a  lady  once  said  to  me  :  '  Good  pic 
tures  or  bad  pictures,  —  pictures  I  must  have  ! ' ' 

"  Oh,  do  get  out  of  ma  light  and  come  in ! " 
smiled  Betty.  "  But  just  remember  I  don't  always 
allow  visitors ;  so  not  even  yd1  assurance  will  al 
ways  answer.  This  morning  I  happen  to  feel  good- 
natured." 

"  My  lucky  star  again,"  remarked  Andreas, 
steering  his  long  legs  carefully  past  the  painting- 
table. 

But  Gerard,  gravely  persistent,  continued  to 
urge  upon  Betty  a  flight  into  the  open  air,  and  at 
last  he  carried  his  point. 

As  they  were  returning  from  their  bicycle  ride, 
he  began  suggesting  plans  for  the  afternoon. 

"  You  will  come  over  to  parade,  won't  you  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  think  so.  If  Miss  Dexter  likes  to 
come." 

"  Since  when  do  your  plans  depend  on  her  ?  " 

"  Since  quite  lately.  I  see  now  that  she  was  n't 
well  when  she  came  here.  But  she  is  herself  again, 
and  herself  is  charming.  Yo'  prophecy  is  fulfilled. 
I  see  that  she  is  a  woman's  woman." 

"  Well,  she  is  at  home  here  now.  You  need  not 
consult  her  about  coming  to  parade.  I  dare  say 
Rusty  will  want  to  come  over." 

"  Of  course.  Probably  we  all  three  shall  come. 
I  think  we  make  a  very  agreeable  quartette,  don't 
you?" 


A  BICYCLE  RIDE.  221 

As  she  asked  it,  Betty  stepped  lightly  down  from 
her  wheel,  for  they  had  reached  Edgewater.  She 
looked  pretty  in  her  trim  bicycle  dress,  as  she  stood 
waiting  for  his  answer  to  her  gay  question. 

"  Yes,  I  think  we  do,"  he  answered,  also  alight 
ing,  and  drawing  his  steel  steed  close  beside  her. 
"  Although  Rusty  always  shows  a  propensity  to 
appropriate  you  whenever  we  four  happen  to  be 
together." 

"  And  that  makes  you  jealous?"  asked  the  girl, 
laughing  a  little,  although  his  haggard  face  touched 
her  deeply. 

"  I  should  hope  it  would,"  he  answered  with 
gravity. 

"  Nonsense  !  They  always  separate  brother  and 
sister  at  every  social  entertainment." 

"  And  husband  and  wife,"  he  answered  seri 
ously.  "  I  wish  you  would  marry  me  soon,  Betty. 
Don't  put  me  off.  I  am  very  much  in  earnest. 
What  possible  reason  is  there  for  waiting  any 
longer  ?  " 

"  Dear  Roger."  The  girl's  little  gauntleted 
hand  stole  into  his.  "  I  love  you  better  than  ever, 
if  possible,  but  I  'm  not  going  to  marry  you  — 
ever." 

She  could  see  his  lips  grow  pale.  "  Why  not  ? 
I  refuse  to  give  you  up." 

"  I  've  thought  it  all  out,  Roger.  You  know  I 
told  you  I  was  going  to ;  and  I  've  decided  irre 
vocably." 


222  MfSS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

He  leaned  on  his  wheel.  "  How  have  I  lacked 
to  that  extent?  "  he  asked,  regarding  her  with  such 
obvious  wretchedness  that  she  had  need  to  be  very 
clear-sighted  not  to  be  deceived. 

"  I  've  lacked  just  as  much-  as  you  have.  It  is  n't 
our  fault  that  we  care  for  each  other  only  as  brother 
and  sister,  is  it?  There  is  no  limit  to  what  we 
would  do  for  each  other.  I  'm  as  sure  of  you  as 
you  are  of  me.  Each  of  us  would  remain  single 
if  it  would  do  the  other  any  good  ;  but  it  would  n't. 
I  give  you  warning,  I  shall  marry  Mr.  Right  when 
ever  he  comes  along ;  and  I  'm  ready  to  give  you 
and  the  '  not  impossible  she '  my  blessing  any  day. 
See  how  those  little  sisterly  jealous  twinges  of 
mine  have  vanished  ?  " 

His  gloomy  eyes  met  her  clear  ones,  uncoin- 
forted. 

"  You  are  not  rid  of  me  so  easily,"  he  responded. 
"  I  decline  to  give  up  my  place  until  some  one  else 
proves  his  right  to  it.  I  have  had  a  blow,  Betty !  " 

"  I  know  you  have,  dear,  dear  Roger,"  she  mur 
mured,  following  him  with  misty  eyes,  for  with  his 
last  words  he  had  mounted  and  sped  off  like  the 
wind. 

She  went  with  her  two  friends  to  parade,  but 
planned  to  arrive  only  in  time  for  the  ceremony,  so 
that  Gerard  could  not  join  them  until  his  calming 
routine  duties  were  over. 

He  had  regained  command  of  himself,  and  his 
face  told  no  tales  as  he  came  back  under  the  trees 
to  greet  them. 


A   SI CYCLE   RIDE.  223 

The  lieutenant  and  Nathalie  being  equally  de 
termined  not  to  walk  together,  Andreas  soon  found 
himself  strolling  across  the  lawn  beside  Miss  Dex 
ter,  while  the  other  couple  preceded  them. 

Betty  had  found  opportunity  to  tell  Russell 
briefly  the  point  of  her  morning  interview  with  Ge 
rard,  and  he  felt  vaguely  that  she  expected  him  to 
begin  immediately  on  his  task  of  aiding  and  abetting 
her. 

With  a  man's  usual  distaste  for  gossip,  he  did 
not  relish  appearing  to  expose  his  friend's  private 
matters  for  discussion  ;  but  having,  in  addition  to 
his  desire  to  help  Betty,  an  enormous  axe  to  grind 
on  his  own  account,  he  swallowed  his  fastidiousness 
and  plunged  into  his  subject. 

"  I  fancy  that  affair  will  never  come  to  any 
thing,"  he  remarked,  with  a  nod  of  his  head  to 
ward  the  other  couple. 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  think  so,"  returned 
Nathalie  shortly. 

"  You  are  ambiguous.     Sorry  which  way  ?  " 

"  Sorry  if  it  should  come  to  nothing.  They 
seem  so  well  suited  to  each  other." 

"  I  don't  know.  I  imagine  it  is  one  of  those 
boy-and-girl  affairs  which  never  come  to  anything, 
or  if  they  do,  it  is  a  mistake." 

Nathalie's  lips  took  a  rather  cold  curve,  which 
Russell  told  himself  humbly  that  he  deserved,  more 
especially  if  he  were  rushing  in  where  angels  would 
fear  to  tread. 


224  MISS  ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Never  mind,  he  had  planted  the  seed  ;  and  Betty 
was  pleased  when  he  told  her  about  it  in  the  even 
ing,  just  as  he  had  hoped  she  would  be. 

Mrs.  Archer  was  as  good  as  her  word.  She  did 
watch ;  and  the  things  she  saw  gave  her  food  for 
much  restless  thought. 

The  sudden  intimacy  which  had  sprung  up 
between  the  two  girls,  who  were  now  "  Nathalie  " 
and  "  Betty  "  to  each  other,  was  a  constant  source 
of  resentment  to  her.  She  observed  that  the  mu 
sical  hours  which  a  little  while  ago  Miss  Dexter 
and  Gerard  had  often  enjoyed  together  had  now 
entirely  ceased  to  be.  She  thought  they  even 
avoided  speaking  to  each  other ;  and  these  facts 
raised  her  suspicions  to  fever-heat.  It  stood  to 
reason,  that  if  they  avoided  public  friendliness,  it 
was  because  they  had  a  more  satisfactory  means 
of  exchanging  amenities  in  private.  Nothing  but 
Betty's  appalling  suggestion  of  the  Dexters'  trans 
ference  to  the  Hygeia  gave  her  self-control ;  and,  in 
fact,  she  did  appease  her  wrath  by  an  outbreak 
upon  Miss  Toothaker  one  day,  which  gave  that 
worthy  woman  an  overpowering  surprise. 

Mrs.  Archer  came  in  upon  her  one  morning  in 
the  storeroom.  "  I  wonder  if  you  have  any  idea 
of  the  trouble  you  have  brought  upon  this  house 
hold  !  "  she  ejaculated  in  smothered  tones. 

"Who?  Me?"  returned  Miss  Priscilla,  hold 
ing  an  egg  suspended  in  mid-air  as  she  looked 
around,  dismayed  at  the  attack. 


A   BICYCLE  RIDE.  225 

"  Hospitality  ties  my  hands,  or  I  would  have 
those  Dexters  away  from  here  this  very  day." 

"  The  Dexters  ?  The  nicest  folks  that  ever  came 
into  this  house !  "  said  Miss  Toothaker,  wondering 
if  she  were  dreaming. 

"  Much  you  know  the  sort  of  people  who  have 
come  into  this  house.  You  're  a  parcel  of  Yankees 
together.  You  pretending  to  be  such  a  friend  to 
Miss  Betty  !  " 

"  And  I  wish  you  was  half  as  good  a  friend  to 
her !  "  retorted  Miss  Priscilla,  red  in  the  face  under 
this  furious  onslaught,  and  half  minded  to  throw 
the  missile  she  held. 

"  Don't  dare  to  speak  to  me  that  way,  woman  ! 
What  do  you  care  if  my  child's  engagement  is 
broken  by  the  machinations  of  those  people  you 
have  brought  here  !  " 

"  Oh !  Why  did  n't  you  say  you  was  talkin' 
about  Mr.  Andreas  ?  I  '11  thank  you  not  to  come 
here  ravin'  about  the  Dexters  to  me." 

"  Mr.  Andreas !  "  Again  the  name  checked  the 
angry  woman.  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  've  got  eyes,  I  s'pose.  He  's  nothin' 
to  the  Dexters,  nor  they  to  him.  How  are  they 
goin'  to  help  it  if  he  acts  cracked  about  Miss 
Betty?" 

"I  don't  think  he  means  anything  by  that,"  re 
joined  Mrs.  Archer,  grasping  after  her  dignity,  and 
anxious  to  draw  the  housekeeper  out. 

"  I  guess  you  don't  know  what  you  do  think," 


226          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

retorted  Miss  Priscilla.  "  I  hope  Miss  Betty  '11  do 
well.  I  know  she  '11  do  right,  far 's  she  knows. 
My  advice  to  you  is  to  stand  by  and  keep  your 
mouth  shut." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  told  her  to  keep  her  mouth  shut," 
Miss  Priscilla  used  to  repeat  with  relish,  when, 
later,  she  described  this  hot  and  short  interview. 
"And  after  that  I  told  her  I  wished  she'd  go 
somewheres  else,  for  I  was  gettin'  out  provisions  for 
the  cook.  And  she  went" 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
MISS  TOOTHAKER'S  APPEAL. 

THIS  shock  to  Miss  Toothaker's  consciousness, 
abstracted  as  it  had  been  among  the  cares  of  her 
busy  life,  opened  her  eyes  to  see  hitherto  unob 
served  signs  in  her  family.  Most  noticeable  was 
the  quiet,  serious  change  that  had  befallen  Mrs. 
Dexter. 

It  was  a  few  days  after  the  storeroom  incident 
that  that  lady  came  to  Miss  Priscilla  to  announce 
that  she  and  her  daughter  expected  to  spend  but 
a  week  more  at  Edgewater. 

"  It  seems  such  a  pity  to  be  goin',  too,"  answered 
Miss  Priscilla  regretfully.  "  The  magnolias  and 
lilies  just  comin'  out,  so." 

"  But  something  beautiful  is  always  just  coming 
out  here,"  returned  Mrs.  Dexter.  "  I  fancy  the 
right  time  to  leave  would  never  come." 

"  You  ain't  lookin'  so  bright  as  you  was,"  sug 
gested  the  housekeeper  kindly.  "  I  hope  you 
have  n't  had  bad  news." 

"Yes,  I  have,  Miss  Priscilla,"  said  the  gentle 
woman,  "  but  perhaps  it  is  not  going  to  be  such 
bad  news  as  I  at  first  feared." 

"  I  do  hope  so,  I  'm  sure,"  returned  Miss  Tooth- 


228         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

aker,  with  hearty  and  troubled  sympathy.  "  And 
does  it  take  you  away  sooner  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  does.     Don't  speak  of  this." 

"  No  more  'n  one  o'  those  oysters  would,"  re 
turned  Miss  Priscilla,  indicating  the  shining  sands 
outside  the  fence,  from  which  the  tide  had  retreated. 
"  I  hope  we  ain't  goin'  to  have  bad  news  here," 
she  added  in  the  hushed  tone  she  had  been  using. 
"  It  would  seem  a  shame  to  have  anything  break  off 
such  a  pretty  match  as  Miss  Betty's." 

Her  companion  retreated  a  step  ;  but  Miss  Pris- 
cilla's  kind  light  eyes  held  no  consciousness  of 
inflicting  pain.  "  Shame  would  be  the  word," 
returned  Mrs.  Dexter  severely.  "  What  gave  you 
such  an  idea?" 

"  Oh,  the  stepmother 's  got  a  bee  in  her  bonnet ; 
but  land  !  Mr.  Andreas  is  so  kind  o'  flighty  I  'm 
afraid  it 's  just  a  sort  o'  second  nature  with  him  to 
flirt  with  pretty  girls.  I  have  n't  a  doubt  he  'd 
have  tried  it  on  Nathalie,  if  she  'd  have  let  him." 

The  fright  Miss  Toothaker  had  given  Mrs.  Dex 
ter  caused  her  heart  to  beat  quickly  for  minutes. 
Miss  Priscilla  remained  where  she  finally  left  her, 
wrapped  in  thought.  The  housekeeper  had  been 
assailed  with  an  idea,  and  she  turned  it  over  some 
time  in  her  mind  before  she  at  last  remarked 
aloud :  — 

"  I  don't  see  why  not." 

Junius  poked  his  woolly  head  around  the  side  of 
the  lattice.  "  I  'se  been  watchin'  yer,  Miss  Pris," 


MISS    TOOTHAKER'S   APPEAL.  229 

he  declared.  "  You  looked  like  you  wuz  cunjerin' 
—  standin'  there  talkin'  to  yo'self." 

She  sighed.  kt  You  had  n't  better  be  too  sure 
I  ain't  a  conjurer,"  she  answered,  moving  toward 
the  house. 

"  Laws,  Miss  Pris !  "     The  boy's  eyes  rolled. 

"  You  do  your  work  all  right,  and  I  guess  the 
conjurers  will  let  you  alone." 

"  Yas  'm,  I  'm  —  I  'm  just  goin'  to  do  the  dishes 
now ;  "  and  immediately  a  clash  of  silver  and  china, 
accompanied  by  one  of  Junius's  favorite  hymns, 
sounded  from  the  dining-room  window. 

Miss  Toothaker  strolled  around  the  house  to  see 
if  perchance  Fortune  favored  her  putting  in  her 
oar  at  the  present  juncture  of  affairs  in  the  Archer 
family. 

Apparently  she  did,  for  Miss  Priscilla  caught 
sight  of  Russell  Andreas  alone  on  the  gallery,  his 
chair  tipped  back,  his  feet  on  the  rail,  and  his  hands 
employed  in  folding  some  business  papers  into  rub 
ber  straps. 

He  lowered  his  feet  at  sight  of  Miss  Toothaker, 
in  her  gray  gown  and  white  apron,  looking  up  at 
him. 

"  Busy  ?  "  she  asked  sententiously. 

"  I  have  been,  but  I  'm  just  seeing  the  error  of 
my  wa}rs.  It 's  a  great  mistake  to  work  between 
meals,  Miss  Pris.  Remember  that  for  one  of  your 
guiding  rules  of  life." 

"  Will  you  give  me  five  minutes,  then  ?  " 


230         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Give  you  a  whole  day  —  a  week  —  a  year," 
he  responded  with  enthusiasm.  "  Will  you  'come 
up?" 

"  No ;  I  want  to  see  you  alone." 

"  Ah  !  You  make  me  thrill !  "  and  Andreas 
repressed  a  yawn  as  he  rose  and  came  deliberately 
down  the  nearest  flight  of  steps. 

"  You  even  keep  your  hand  in  with  me,  don't 
you  ?  "  remarked  Miss  Toothaker  dryly.  "  I  guess 
you  're  as  bad  a  flirt  as  there  is  goin'." 

"  Guess  again,  Miss  Pris.  There  are  lots  worse  ; 
and  for  you  to  doubt  me  !  This  is  hard  indeed." 

"  I  know  you  pretty  well,  young  man.  Come 
over  under  the  big  tree.  This  sun 's  warm." 

"So  is  this  one.  Fine  old  tree  that  is,  but  it 
just  swarms  with  some  little  green  insect,  do  you 
know.  If  you  're  going  to  sit  on  the  rustic  seat, 
you  won't  misunderstand  me  if  I  don't  sit  very 
close  to  you  ?  " 

"  You  keep  in  range  o'  my  voice,  that 's  all  I 
ask ; "  and  Miss  Toothaker  led  the  way  to  the 
honey-locust  and  seated  herself,  regardless  of 
myriad  busy  aphides,  while  Andreas  ensconced 
himself  in  the  swing  that  hung  from  a  large  bough. 

"  There  's  a  something,  an  indefinable  tone,  — 
just  a  nuance  of  expression  in  your  voice  and  man 
ner  that  gives  me  vague  terrors,"  remarked  Russell, 
regarding  his  companion  with  amused  curiosity. 
"  There  is  an  absence  of  yearning  tenderness  in 
your  face  which  suggests  that  you  may  be  going  to 


MISS    TOOTHAKEJt'S   APPEAL.  231 

cut  off  my  preserves  at  tea.  Tell  me  frankly,  why 
have  you  lured  me  into  this  lonely  part  of  the 
grounds  just  at  nap-time,  when  my  shrieks  for  help 
would  probably  be  unheard  ?  " 

"  I  'm  goin'  to  tell  you,  young  man.  You  know 
I  ain't  any  hand  to  beat  about  the  bush.  Just  as 
like  's  not  I  'm  goin'  to  make  you  mad,  but  when 
I  think  I  see  my  duty,  I  do  it,  every  time.  You 
know  I  nursed  you  through  one  fever? "  She 
paused. 

"  Bless  your  heart !     You  did  that !  " 

"  Well,  I  'in  afraid  you  've  got  another,"  said 
Miss  Toothaker  bluntly.  "  I  'm  an  old  maid,  and 
don't  know  much  about  such  things  ;  but  I  like 
you,  and  I  like  Betty  Archer,  and  I  like  Lieutenant 
Gerard,  and  when  I  see  you  kind  o'  forgettin'  your 
self  and  perhaps  bringin'  trouble  onto  those  faith 
ful  lovers,  I  just  think  to  myself,  who  is  there  to 
speak  to  you  but  me  ?  " 

For  once  Andreas  was  silent.  He  looked  at  his 
accuser,  then  toward  the  house,  then  back  again  at 
Miss  Toothaker,  who  was  evidently  holding  herself 
up  to  her  task  with  difficulty. 

"  I  don't  think  for  one  minute  that  you  ain't 
honorable,  but  I  do  believe  you  don't  know  the 
harm  you  may  do.  You  're  the  kind  o'  lookin'  man 
that  turns  girls'  heads." 

Andreas  made  a  slight  impatient  gesture.  Even 
his  enemies  admitted  that  reference  to  his  hand 
some  person  was  distasteful  to  him. 


232          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Now  Mrs.  Archer  and  I  met  up  the  other  day 
like  two  old  tabbies  on  a  fence  disputin'  the  right 
o'  way.  She  began  spittin'  about  the  Dexters  and 
insinuatin'  her  insults.  I  knew  what  she  meant 
well  enough,  for  I  'd  noticed  you.  She  classes  you 
all  in  together  as  my  friends,  and  I  answered  her 
back  pretty  well.  I  told  her  flat  out  I  knew  she 
meant  you." 

Andreas  gave  an  odd  smile  at  the  grass.  "  What 
did  she  say  to  that  ?  " 

"  It  seemed  to  shut  her  up.  She  did  n't  know 
what  to  say ;  but  it  just  set  me  to  thinkin'  that 
right  now  was  when  you  wanted  a  good  friend ; 
and  I  am  a  good  friend  o'  yours.  You  believe  it, 
don't  you  ?  " 

"  I  do  indeed." 

Miss  Priscilla  regarded  him  with  troubled  eyes. 
"  If  I  could  put  you  to  bed  and  nurse  you  through 
this,  I  would  n't  begrudge  the  trouble,  —  not  a 
bit,"  she  said  kindly.  "  But  seein'  I  can't,  don't 
you  think,  Mr.  Andreas,"  persuasively,  "  you  'd 
better  go  away  from  here  ?  " 

"  Gerard  is  my  rival  in  more  fields  than  one,  it 
seems." 

"  Why,  of  course  I  want  him  to  have  his  rights. 
You  know  as  well  as  I  do  what  his  rights  are." 
Miss  Priscilla's  tone  was  scandalized. 

"  Well,  I  thank  you,  Miss  Pris,  and  I  will  be 
more  careful  in  future."  Andreas  returned  her 
look  frankly  and  seriously.  "  I  promise  you  to 


MISS    TOOTHAKER'S   APPEAL.  233 

avoid  an  approach  to  dishonor,  and  perhaps  I  will 
go  away  very  soon." 

"And  you  know  just  how  sorry  I  am  to  have 
you  !  "  exclaimed  the  good  woman  anxiously. 

That  afternoon  Nathalie  and  Betty,  Gerard  and 
Andreas,  took  a  boat-ride  together.  They  rowed 
to  a  point  about  a  mile  distant,  and  landing,  sat 
under  the  trees  in  a  breeze  blowing  fresh  from 
Chesapeake  Bay. 

Mrs.  Archer  saw  them  depart  with  mingled 
excited  feelings,  uppermost  in  which  was  resent 
ment  toward  Betty  for  slighting  privileges  and 
opportunities  which  a  girl  of  better  judgment  would 
improve.  Even  that  stupid  Miss  Toothaker  had 
observed  the  impression  made  upon  Russell  An 
dreas. 

If  Betty  were  sincere  in  the  romantic  idiocy  of 
throwing  Roger  over,  what  a  godsend  was  this  new 
and  even  more  eligible  parti  ;  but  fearing  that  the 
girl  was  capable  of  clinging  in  her  heart  to  Gerard 
even  though  she  gave  him  his  liberty,  Mrs.  Archer 
was  gnawed  with  anxiety  lest  such  a  slippery  big 
fish  would  be  deliberately  permitted  to  get  away 
when  perfectly  willing  to  be  caught. 

"  I  '11  make  her  suffer  for  that,  if  she  is  so  enor 
mously  stupid,"  vowed  Mrs.  Archer  to  herself, 
wishing  it  were  still  a  la  mode  to  shut  girls  up  and 
keep  them  on  bread  and  water. 

Betty,  unconscious  of  the  resentful  thoughts  that 
pursued  her,  was  feeling  more  light-hearted  and 


234          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

happy  than  for  weeks  past.  Her  satisfaction  in 
seeing  Roger  and  Nathalie  together  had  now  be 
come  spontaneous,  and  she  let  her  high  spirits  have' 
their  way,  believing  that  to  let  Gerard  see  her  con 
tentment  would  be  the  best  balm  for  his  wound ; 
indeed,  convince  him  that  his  honor  and  self- 
respect  had  not  been  injured  by  his  runaway 
affections. 

He  had  not  reached  that  relief  as  yet,  however. 
The  chief  reason  that  he  had  come  to  long  to  con 
fess  himself  to  Nathalie  was  that  he  might  throw 
himself  on  her  compassion  and  beg  her  to  go  away. 
The  sight  of  her  face  and  the  sound  of  her  voice 
were  sweet  torment.  He  was  still  promising  him 
self  to  conquer  his  love,  to  win  Betty  back,  and  to 
devote  his  life  to  making  her  happy. 

By  ill-luck  Nathalie  had  been  placed  in  the  stern 
of  the  boat,  and  he,  as  he  rowed,  was  face  to  face 
with  her.  Her  white  flannel  suit  and  the  reddish 
tendrils  of  hair  that  curled  and  clung  up  against 
her  white  cap  in  the  wind  photographed  them 
selves  on  his  brain. 

The  girl  felt  none  of  the  stormy  compunctions 
that  swelled  beneath  his  calm  exterior.  She  wanted 
just  this.  She  wished  to  see  him  and  Betty  to 
gether,  as  she  meant  to  hold  them  in  her  mind  all 
her  life,  and  desired  to  accustom  herself  with  more 
and  more  friendly  feeling  to  this  conception.  A 
very  sweet  and  serious  expression  was  in  her  eyes, 
—  one  that  did  not  at  all  contribute  to  the  peace 


MfSS    TOOTHAKER'S   APPEAL.  235 

of  mind  of  the  longing  man  before  her ;  and  she, 
with  her  belief  in  him,  her  admiration  and  respect 
for  him,  did  not  dream  that  he  would  have  been 
glad  to  avoid  her,  but  talked  to  him  easily,  forgiv 
ing  his  courteous  monosyllables  on  the  score  of  his 
preoccupation,  until  they  reached  the  peninsula 
whither  they  were  bound. 

"  Going  home,  Nathalie  and  I  are  going  to  row," 
announced  Betty,  as  they  left  the  boat. 

"  All  right,"  agreed  Andreas.  "  '  I  would  not 
live  alway.'  Would  you,  jGrerard  ?" 

The  latter  made  a  gesture.  "  So  long  as  I  die 
with  Betty,  what  matter  when  ?  " 

"  Hear,  hear  !  "  called  Andreas.  "  Or  no.  On 
second  thoughts  I  take  back  that  applause.  It  is 
excessively  unmilitary  for  you  to  propose  dying 
with  Miss  Archer  Archer.  I  insist  that  you  be 
murdered  properly  on  the  plains." 

"  You  unpleasant  person  !  "  exclaimed  Nathalie. 

The  men  spread  down  shawls  for  the  two  girls 
to  sit  upon,  and  disposed  themselves  close  by. 

"  Now,  then,  bring  on  some  Pulpit  waves,"  sug 
gested  Russell,  regarding  the  softly  lapping  water. 

"  Now  you  are  impolite,"  said  Nathalie. 

"We  forgive  him,"  said  Gerard,  half-reclining 
close  to  the  hem  of  Betty's  blue  dress.  "Espe 
cially  we  who  have  been  there.  Betty,  you  ought 
to  see  the  Pulpit." 

"  Roger,  that 's  not  original.  I  've  heard  you 
say  it  befo',  and  I  promise  you  the  same  summer  I 
visit  the  moon  I'll  visit  the  Pulpit." 


236         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  You  must  come  up  again  this  year,  old  man," 
said  Andreas.  "  My  mother  wrote  me  yesterday 
to  be  sure  to  ask  you." 

"  Please  thank  her  very  sincerely ;  but  I  shall 
not  be  able  to  repeat  the  pleasure  this  summer." 

"  Why,  do  go,  Roger !  It  did  you  so  much 
good." 

Gerard  met  Betty's  earnest  look.  "  I  shall  not 
get  any  leave  this  year." 

*'  Want  to  stay  where  you  can  watch  me,  don't 
you  ?  "  she  asked  saucily. 

"  I  want  to  stay  with  you,  yes." 

She  looked  down  into  the  depths  of  his  eloquent, 
unsmiling  eyes.  Then  she  poked  the  tip  of  her 
finger  into  the  spot  in  his  cheek  where  a  dimple 
would  be  if  he  had  had  one. 

"  Could  n't  he  laugh  a  little  for  the  lady  ?  "  she 
asked  wheedlingly  ;  and  Andreas  began  absently 
tearing  up  the  grass  with  one  hand  and  wondering 
if  Roger  would  win  after  all,  while  Nathalie  con 
gratulated  herself  with  a  hurrying  heart  that  this 
was  a  fine  opportunity  for  learning  the  lesson  she 
had  set  herself. 

And  Roger,  infected  by  the  mischievous  sparkle 
in  the  blue  eyes  above  him,  sighed,  but  smiled  as 
he  was  bid. 

They  made  an  early  start  home,  for  a  dance  was 
in  order  that  evening. 

The  water-trip  was  made  eventful  chiefly  by 
Nathalie's  inexperience  with  the  oars  and  the 


MfSS   TOOTffAKER'S   APPEAL.  237 

directions  and  devout  comments  of  Russell,  who 
had  on  several  occasions  constituted  himself  her 
instructor  in  the  art  of  rowing. 

Under  cover  of  their  nonsense  Gerard  made  a 
serious  appeal  to  Betty. 

"  No,  no,"  she  answered,  with  firm  brightness. 
"  I  'm  happy  now,  and  you  will  come  to  happiness 
too.  I  sleep  all  night  like  a  baby.  I  did  n't  befo'. 
Look  into  ma  eyes,  Roger.  Don't  you  see  that 
I  'm  telling  the  truth  ?  " 

He  leaned  back  in  his  seat  silently,  while  Rus 
sell's  pathetic  tones  rent  the  air. 

"  Miss  Dexter  !  I  'm  dripping  !  Heaven  knows 
I  don't  want  to  be  unchivalrous,  and  it  is  painful 
to  expose  the  poverty  of  my  wardrobe  ;  but  really, 
one  more  crab  like  that,  and  I  shall  have  to  wear 
my  dress  suit  mornings." 

"  Cut  them  off  and  make  knickerbockers  of 
them,"  suggested  Nathalie  unfeelingly  ;  and  Betty, 
whose  oars  here  collided  with  the  unmanageable 
ones  behind  her,  lost  her  stroke,  and  laughed 


"  By  Jove  !  that  girl  's  a  good  actress,  if  she 
is  n't  an  out  and  out  angel,"  thought  Andreas.  He 
was  nearly  as  perturbed  as  Gerard's  self,  and  quite 
as  much  in  need  of  reassurance. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

AT   THE   BALL. 

THE  ballroom  at  the  Hygeia  was  gay  to-night, 
and  the  long  promenade  was  as  popular  as  the 
glass-inclosed  dancing-floor.  Army  and  naval  uni 
forms  varied  the  monotony  of  conventional  evening 
dress,  and  the  women's  light  gowns  enlivened  the 
scene. 

"  What  a  serious  beauty  Nathalie  has  to-night," 
said  Betty  to  Andreas,  as  he  came  to  claim  her  for 
their  first  dance  together.  "  Of  co'se  she 's  a 
pretty  girl,  but  there  is  something  so  spiritual  in 
her  look  in  that  white  gown,  —  something  differ 
ent  from  usual.  Have  you  observed  it  ?  " 

"  I  noticed  that  she  looked  well.  I  've  just  been 
telling  her  so.  But  you  are  right.  She  is  extraor 
dinarily  mum  to-night." 

"  So  is  Roger,"  sighed  Betty. 

"  I  am  not  sorry  to  exchange  her  for  a  partner 
who  can  speak,  and  one  who  has  some  color  in  her 
gown  as  well  as  in  her  conversation.  Do  you  know 
I  particularly  like  this  color  ?  " 

"  So  unusual,  I  suppose." 

"  Are  you  laughing  at  me  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  fancy  you  've  seen  several  pink  gowns." 


AT   THE   BALL.  239 

"  Oh,  but  not  of  just  your  hue.  It  looks  differ 
ent  from  any  I  ever  saw,  really." 

Miss  Archer  gave  a  little  shrug. 

"  I  thought  I  'd  better  wear  pink  because  I  felt 
blue." 

"  I  knew  you  were  acting  all  along,"  said  An 
dreas  with  sudden  gloom.  "  Did  you  notice  Gerard 
as  he  and  Miss  Dexter  just  passed  us  ?  They  look 
more  like  mutes  at  a  funeral  than  people  at  a  ball. 
And  if  you  are  blue,  too,  you  ought  to  stop  this 
whole  business." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Andreas  !  "  exclaimed  Betty  in  sur 
prise  at  his  tone,  and  no  more  words  passed  be 
tween  them  until  the  dance  was  ended,  and  the 
couples  began  to  hasten,  chatting  and  laughing, 
out  of  doors. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  wait  here  for  Gerard,  or  shall 
I  take  you  to  Mrs.  Archer?"  asked  Russell  stiffly. 

Betty's  eyes  were  lifted  to  him  questioningly, 
and  he  looked  down  at  her  innocent  face  and 
girlish  white  neck  rising  from  her  airy  pink 
frills. 

"  Why  are  you  vexed  with  me  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Because  you  are  making  a  lot  of  people  unne 
cessarily  uncomfortable  by  your  mistaken  unself 
ishness,"  was  the  severe  reply.  "  You  admit  that 
you  are  blue." 

"  How  can  I  help  feeling  sad  for  Roger  when  I 
see  him  struggling  ? "  she  asked,  and  her  gentle 
ness  made  him  ashamed  of  his  jealousy. 


240  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Would  you  like  to  walk  out  a  little  way  ? " 
he  asked  briefly. 

"Yes,  and  quickly.  It  will  give  them  more 
time  together." 

"  Then  let  me  get  your  wrap."  He  moved  to 
where  Mrs.  Archer  was  sitting,  and  that  lady's 
vain  heart  swelled  with  pride  that  her  companion 
chaperons  should  see  him. 

"  Don't  let  Betty  stay  out  too  long,"  she  said,  as 
she  smilingly  handed  him  the  silken  scarf. 

"  One  of  the  Andreas  family  of  Philadelphia," 
she  explained  carelessly,  when  he  had  gone. 

"  When  are  your  daughter  and  Mr.  Gerard  to  be 
married?"  asked  her  portly  next  neighbor. 

"  Who  knows  if  they  ever  will  be  ?  "  responded 
Mrs.  Archer  lightly.  "  They  seem  to  think  them 
selves  boy  and  girl  still." 

Andreas  placed  the  wrap  about  Betty's  shoul 
ders,  and  they  followed  the  promenaders  out  to 
where  the  waves  were  booming. 

"  Forgive  me  if  I  seemed  rough  a  minute  ago," 
he  said.  "  Surely  I  ought  to  reconsider  my  promise 
to  be  your  ally  in  a  crusade  against  your  own  hap 
piness.  It  is  wrong  —  why,  it  is  fantastic  to  sacri 
fice  yourself  to  Miss  Dexter  in  this  way !  Admit 
ting  that  Roger  was  somewhat  taken  with  her 
music,  you  see  how  it  has  knocked  him  up  for  you 
to  throw  him  over.  He  is  sane  enough  now  at  all 
events,  and  has  had  a  lesson.  If  you  would  let  me 
tell  him  that  you  have  confessed  to  me  that  you  are 
unhappy " — 


AT   THE   BALL.  241 

"  And  you  call  yourself  ma  friend  !  "  exclaimed 
Betty. 

"  I  don't  admit  a  rival  there,  not  even  Koger," 
was  the  quick  rejoinder. 

"  Then  I  wonder  why  you  can't  understand  that 
I  'm  not  unhappy  for  maself." 

"  I  don't  believe  you  think  enough  about  your 
self  to  know." 

"  Indeed  I  do.  Don't  you  worry  about  my  un 
selfishness." 

"  Then  are  n't  you  willing  to  marry  Roger  even, 
if  you  could  be  made  to  believe  that  he  loves  you  ?  " 

A  low  laugh  escaped  the  girl.  "  I  think,  Mr, 
Andreas,  he  could  have  made  me  believe  it,  if  he 
had  loved  me." 

"  But  you  love  him,  and  that  makes  me  misera 
ble  !  "  exclaimed  her  companion. 

"  Yo  're  just  as  kind  as  you  can  be,  but  one  of 
us  is  awfully  stupid.  I  thought  I  'd  explained  to 
you  that  I  only  love  Roger  as  a  lonely  girl  must 
love  the  brother  who  is  all  the  world  to  her.  I  'm 
mo'  than  willing  he  should  marry  some  one  else." 

"And  I  'm  to  believe  that !  " 

Betty  laughed  softly  again.  "  I  don't  know.  I 
hope  so ;  but  you  seem  to  be  unreliable.  You  may 
say  something  cross  to  me  and  something  clumsy  to 
Roger  befo'  I  know  it." 

"  I  won't,  I  won't !  "  Russell's  big  voice  trem 
bled.  "  I  can  go  ahead  with  some  heart  now ; " 
but  here  some  acquaintances  of  Betty  stopped  her 


242  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

on  the  walk,  and  introductions  and  small  talk  fol 
lowed. 

Andreas  and  Gerard  found  a  minute  for  a  few 
quiet  words  at  the  close  of  the  evening,  while  the 
ladies  were  preparing  for  the  drive  home.  Russell 
felt  that  he  was  about  to  enter  upon  ticklish  ground 
as  he  regarded  his  friend's  set  countenance,  but 
what  was  the  risk  of  a  few  snubs  to  a  man  in  his 
state  of  mind  ? 

"  Miss  Archer  has  been  telling  me  an  astonish 
ing  bit  of  news,"  he  began,  seating  himself  near 
the  lieutenant  on  the  piazza. 

"  Yes  ?  "  was  the  not  inviting  response. 

"  She  tells  me  that  the  understanding  between 
you  has  resolved  itself  into  an  agreement  not  to 
marry." 

"  That  is  a  misstatement.  I  have  not  agreed 
to  it." 

"  But  you  are  not  the  man  to  hold  a  girl  who 
wishes  to  be  free." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  speaking  to  me  of 
this  ?  "  asked  Gerard,  with  the  ultra-deliberation  of 
manner  his  chum  remembered. 

"  Confound  it,  Roger,  don't  be  grouchy.  Why 
should  n't  I  speak,  since  Miss  Archer  gave  me  the 
right  ?  She  says  you  are  both  free." 

The  lieutenant  shook  his  head.  "  I  am  not 
free."  Then  impatiently,  "  What  do  you  want  to 
talk  about  it  for?  You  can't  understand." 

"  I  understand  the  whole  situation.    Miss  Archer 


AT   THE   BALL.  243 

has  been  kind  enough  to  give  it  to  me.  Her  paint 
ing  is  everything  to  her.  It  is  all  she  wants  for 
her  happiness.  She  says  it  makes  her  feel  entirely 
independent  for  the  future." 

A  slow  smile  curved  the  lieutenant's  mustache, 
and  under  his  quizzical  look  Andreas  smiled  rather 
consciously. 

"  You  've  learned  the  words,  Rusty,  but  you 
are  n't  much  of  an  actor.  You  feel  a  trifle  uncon 
vinced  yourself,  don't  you  ?  " 

"  Of  course,  that  about  her  comfortable  indepen 
dence  is  all  moonshine,"  admitted  the  ambassador 
bluntly,  although  with  desperate  thoughts  of  Miss 
Archer's  displeasure;  "but  I  say,  Gerard,"  —  he 
looked  up  with  sudden  determination,  —  "  don't  be  a 
dog  in  the  manger.  Give  me  a  show,  won't  you  ?  " 

Gerard  changed  his  position,  and  his  dreamy 
eyes  widened.  "  What  ?  " 

"  I  'm  head  over  ears.  I  'm  swamped.  I  'm 
gone." 

"  What !  You  of  the  chronically  '  honorable 
but  remote  intentions'  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  and  they  're  deucedly  remote  now,  but  it 
is  n't  my  fault." 

"  Does  she  know  it  ?  "  Gerard's  pulses  were 
fluttering  with  new  strivings  to  be  free. 

"  Know  it !     No  !  " 

"  See  here,  old  man,  you  need  n't  shout.  Then 
that  is  the  explanation  of  your  officiousness."  Ge 
rard  fell  into  thought,  and  his  companion  did  not 


244  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

disturb  him.  At  last  he  looked  up.  "  Betty  has 
evidently  told  you  everything.  I  am  going  to  ask 
you  a  question  now  that  will  be  a  strain  on  your 
honesty ;  but  answer  it  on  your  honor.  Do  you 
believe  her  decision  irrevocable  ?  Do  you  believe 
I  cannot  induce  her  to  marry  me?  " 

"  I  don't  know  sure,"  responded  Russell,  looking 
from  one  side  to  the  other  in  a  hunted  way,  which 
would  have  been  comical  to  Gerard  at  another  time. 
"But  she  says  she  isn't  in  love  with  you  and 
does  n't  want  to  marry  you.  I  urged  her  to  stick 
to  you ;  I  did,  for  a  fact.  I  believed  then  she 
really  wanted  you,  you  laiow." 

Gerard  looked  away.  "  That  would  seem  frank 
enough,"  he  remarked.  "  I  ask  the  question,  An 
dreas,"  he  went  on  after  a  second,  "  because  I  can 
not  feel  as  if  any  one  would  take  such  care  of 
Betty  as  I  should." 

"  Oh,  get  off  the  earth !  "  retorted  the  other. 

"  I  believe  you  would  come  next,  though,"  and 
the  young  officer  smiled  ;  the  rigid  lines  of  his  face 
had  slowly  faded  away. 

"  I  mean  to  come  next  if  a  man's  powers  can 
compass  it,  —  that  is,  I  suppose  you  have  no  ob 
jection." 

The  two  men  looked  at  each  other  for  an  instant 
in  silence  as  they  rose  ;  then  Gerard  held  out  his 
hand,  and  Andreas  was  not  slow  to  clasp  it. 

"Thank  God  it  is  you,  Rusty,"  was  the  low  re 
sponse. 


AT   THE   BALL.  245 

Poor  Nathalie,  strained  and  over-tired,  longed 
to  creep  to  bed  when  the  party  at  last  reached 
Edgewater,  and  her  heart  rebelled  when  Betty 
caught  her  arm  at  the  door. 

"  Don't  go  in  yet,"  she  said  softly,  for  Mrs. 
Archer  had  preceded  them,  and  she  feared  to  let 
her  hear.  "  I  have  something  to  tell  you." 

"  But  it  is  so  late,"  objected  Nathalie.  What 
ever  Betty  had  to  tell,  she  was  sure  she  did  not 
wish  to  hear  it. 

"  It  won't  take  me  long  ;  and  don't  you  always 
want  to  talk  over  a  party  ?  Yo'  mother  is  in  yo' 
room,  and  ma  mother  is  in  mine,  and  we  can't  have 
any  peace  in  the  house.  Beside,  it  is  such  a  lovely 
night,  it  is  a  shame  to  go  in." 

"  Oh,  you  are  going  to  stay  out  and  smoke  with 
me !  How  kind  !  "  said  Andreas,  seeing  them 
turn  away  from  the  door. 

"  Indeed  we  are  not,"  returned  Betty.  "  Who 
ever  heard  of  a  man  being  admitted  to  an  '  After 
the  Ball '  conclave  !  " 

"  Oh,  do  let  me,"  begged  Eussell  effusively. 
"  I  '11  tell  you  all  about  my  compliments,  and  how 
the  other  fellows'  coats  were  cut  "  — 

But  with  a  firm  gesture  of  farewell,  Betty  led 
her  captive  away. 

The  moon  was  low,  and  the  great  trees  were  still 
beneath  the  star-set,  velvet  sky.  In  a  remote 
corner  of  the  gallery  Miss  Archer  found  two  chairs, 
and  ensconced  her  reluctant  friend  beside  her. 


246          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Did  you  enjoy  it  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Not  very  much." 

"  Dear  me  !  "  returned  Betty.  "  Did  n't  you  like 
yo'  partners  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  the  fault  was  wholly  in  myself.  Some 
times  I  don't  feel  like  dancing.  I  know  this 
sounds  ungracious  ;  but  you  're  always  so  good  to 
me,  I  know  you  will  let  me  be  honest.  You  see 
you  would  better  have  let  me  go  to  bed." 

"  No,"  confidentially,  "  because  I  did  n't  have  a 
good  time  either." 

"  Indeed  ?  I  am  sorry.  I  thought  you  were 
very  gay." 

"  Oh,"  Betty  repressed  a  yawn,  "  we  girls  can 
all  smile  and  smile  and  be  villains  still,  you  know. 
I  never  have  a  good  time  if  Roger  does  n't,  and 
did  n't  you  think  he  was  out  of  sorts  to-night  ?  " 

"  I  believe  he  was  rather  quiet." 

"  And  I  can  tell  you  why.  He  is  in  a  transi 
tion  stage ;  and  they  are  always  so  unpleasant,  you 
know." 

Nathalie  made  no  comment. 

"  You  don't  seem  very  curious  about  our  affairs." 
Betty  smiled,  and  reaching  over,  squeezed  her 
friend's  hand.  "  But  I  'm  going  to  tell  you  about 
this  little  hard  time  I  'm  having  with  Roger,  be 
cause  too  many  people  believe  we  are  engaged,  and 
the  sooner  the  truth  is  generally  understood,  the 
better.  Now  that  we  have  arrived  at  years  of  dis 
cretion,  we  have  discovered  that  neither  of  us  has 


AT   THE   BALL.  247 

the  slightest  desire  to  marry  the  other ;  and  yet.  if 
you  will  believe  it,  that  foolish  boy  won't  agree 
that  it  is  right  fo'  him  to  trust  me  to  travel  safely 
through  life  without  him  !  Of  course  he  will  in 
the  end  ;  but  if  you  knew  what  Roger  is,  you  would 
understand  why  he  feels  actually  remorseful  about 
the  whole  matter.  It  makes  it  mighty  unpleasant 
fo'  us  both." 

Nathalie  leaned  against  the  pillar,  her  heart  beat 
ing  almost  to  suffocation.  Betty  felt  the  impossi 
bility  it  was  to  her  to  speak ;  so,  looking  out  on 
the  shadowy  bay  and  feigning  to  repress  another 
yawn,  she  continued  after  a  little  silence :  — 

"  The  worst  is  over,  I  reckon.  Roger  squeezed 
ma  hand  and  smiled  like  his  dear  old  self  when  he 
put  me  into  the  carriage  to  come  home  to-night. 
I  felt  certain  that  he  had  begun  to  look  at  the 
situation  reasonably,  and  if  so,  Nathalie,  you  must 
congratulate  me,  for  I  shall  feel  as  light-hearted  as 
a  bird." 

"  You  deserve  to  be  happy."  Nathalie  managed 
to  utter  the  words,  but  in  a  rather  breathless 
voice. 

"  Poor  thing !  Yo  're  so  sleepy,"  returned  Betty, 
laughing.  "  I  may  as  well  let  you  go  to  bed  while 
you  can  still  understand  what  I  'm  talking  about." 

She  put  her  soft  arms  around  her  friend's  neck 
and  kissed  her  tenderly  as  they  separated,  and 
Nathalie  hurried  to  her  own  room. 

Hastening  to  the  side  of  her  sleeping  mother, 


248         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

she  sat  down  on  the  edge  of  the  bed  in  the  dim 
light,  and  stooping  over  her,  pressed  her  fresh 
cheek  to  hers. 

Mrs.  Dexter  stirred. 

"  You  home,  Nathalie  ?  " 

"  Yes,  dear.  You  told  me  to  wake  you,  and 
I  would  have  had  to,  anyway.  Can  we  go  away 
to-morrow  ?  " 

The  question  made  the  mother  alert  at  once. 
"  Yes,  indeed.  You  give  up  your  experiment, 
then?" 

"  Oh,  I  am  frightened,  mother !  Betty  says  it 
is  all  broken  off." 

"  May  we  be  forgiven  !  "  ejaculated  Mrs.  Dexter, 
horrified. 

"No,  no,  dear,"  the  girl  murmured  with  soft 
eagerness.  "  Betty  confided  in  me.  She  does  n't 
wish  to  marry  him.  She  truly  does  n't." 

"How  can  that  be?" 

"  Yes,  how  can  it !  But  it  is  true.  I  must  be 
lieve  her ;  and  now  I  can't  stay  another  day." 

«  Why  —  I  don't  see  "  — 

"  Mother  !  " 

"  Yes,  yes ;  I  suppose  it  would  be  hard.  We 
will  go,  Nathalie." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

GREEK   MEETS   GREEK. 

THE  Dexter  s'  sudden  departure  made  a  stir  the 
following  day. 

"  It 's  not  sportsmanlike  for  you  to  leave  before 
I  do,  Miss  Nathalie,"  said  Andreas.  "Just  come 
out  in  the  boat  once  more  and  row  me  about,  to 
show  that  you  have  no  hard  feelings.  I  have  still 
one  pair  of  trousers  that  is  n't  shrunk  quite  to  the 
knees." 

"  You  make  it  very  tempting,"  she  answered. 
"  Is  n't  it  hard  enough  to  leave  Edgewater,  any 
way?" 

Mother  and  daughter  told  all  inquirers  that  they 
had  received  news  which  hurried  them  away ;  and 
only  Betty  Archer  understood  what  this  news  was. 

"  I  'm  going  to  be  very  philosophical  about  this 
separation,  Nathalie,"  she  declared.  "  I  feel  it  in 
ma  bones  that  we  shall  meet  again,  and  ma  bones 
are  exceptionally  truthful." 

"  I  hope  your  affairs  will  come  out  to  your  entire 
satisfaction,"  returned  Nathalie,  as  composedly  as 
she  was  able. 

"  You  must  leave  some  nice  messages  fo'  Roger. 
"  It 's  right  strange  he  has  n't  been  over  this  mo'n- 
in0". 

O' 


250  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"He  told  me  last  evening  that  his  duties  as 
officer  of  the  day  would  keep  him  at  the  post," 
replied  Nathalie.  This  fact  had  given  her  satis 
faction  and  relief  all  through  her  hurried  prepara 
tions.  "  You  must  give  him  our  good-bys." 

"  And  regrets,  of  co'se?  "  added  demure  Betty. 

"  Oh,  of  course." 

And  so,  accompanied  by  a  little  concourse  to  the 
station,  and  laden  with"  roses,  the  Dexters  left 
Edgewater  and  Virginia,  deeply  regretted  by  all 
the  company  but  Mrs.  Archer,  who  moved  with  a 
lighter  step  and  happier  mien  after  their  departure. 

"  It 's  a  wonder  that  girl  did  n't  go  over  to  the 
post  and  hunt  up  Roger  to  say  good-by,"  she  re 
marked  to  Betty. 

"  It  would  have  made  him  very  happy  if  she  had. 
I  dread  to  tell  him  she  has  gone." 

"  Oh,  you  are  such  a  dunce,  Betty !  It 's  the 
best  thing  that  could  happen  to  you  to  have  her 
out  of  the  way." 

They  had  sat  down  on  the  piazza  in  cool  shade 
after  the  warm  walk  to  and  from  the  train. 

Betty  braced  herself  for  an  avowal.  It  might 
as  well  come  now  as  any  time: 

"  I  ought  to  tell  you,  Mrs.  Archer,  that  I  've  at 
last  told  Roger  ma  wish  that  we  should  be  brother 
and  sister  for  evermore." 

The  older  woman  turned  and  scrutinized  the  girl 
alertly. 

"  Betty,  don't  be  afraid  to  confide  in  me  about 


GREEK   MEETS    GREEK.  251 

Mr.  Andreas,"  she  said  tentatively.  "It  will  be 
better  for  us  both,  I  assure  you." 

"  Mr.  Andreas  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  ques 
tion.  I  wish  you  would  believe  it."  The  girl 
blushed  in  spite  of  herself,  and  her  heart  beat  fast 
with  distaste  for  this  necessary  ordeal.  "  If  you 
have  any  regard  fo'  me,"  she  added  earnestly, 
"  please  try  to  take  ma  standpoint  for  a  minute 
and  listen  to  what  I  say.  I  used  to  believe  that  it 
would  be  right  fo'  me  to  marry  Roger  some  time, 
but  now  I  know  it  would  be  wrong.  I  didn't  see 
it  all  at  once.  I  had  some  pangs  to  bear,  fo'  I 
had  been  first  with  him  so  long ;  but  in  the  mental 
struggle  I  have  learned  to  understand  ma  own  feel 
ings,  and  it  is  of  no  use  to  argue,  fo'  it  is  clear  to 
me  as  the  light  of  day  that  a  girl  should  have  a 
sentiment  fo'  the  man  she  marries  totally  different 
from  any  I  've  ever  felt  fo'  Roger  Gerard." 

Mrs.  Archer  eyed  her  shrewdly.  "  Yes ;  since 
knowing  Mr.  Andreas  you  have  discovered  all 
this!" 

"  Truly,"  exclaimed  the  distressed  girl,  —  "  truly 
he  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  case." 

Mrs.  Archer  gave  a  hard  laugh.  "  I  wish  girls 
would  once  in  a  while  tell  the  truth  about  these 
matters.  Oh,  well,  I  can  apply  to  him,  if  you 
prefer." 

"  Would  you  be  so  unkind  ?  That  compels  me 
to  tell  you  that  he  has  confided  to  me  that  he  is 
in  love  with  some  one  else." 


252         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

The  stepmother  reddened.  "  Then  he  has  be 
haved  outrageously,  Betty  Archer !  He  has  flirted 
with  you  till  he  has  set  every  one  talking.  No 
wonder  Roger  relinquished  you  !  But  we  will  go 
to  the  poor  boy  together.  We  will  tell  him  there 
is  nothing  in  it,  and  he  will  take  you  back.  It 's 
ridiculous  !  It 's  wicked  !  You  need  n't  think  I 
shall  sit  tamely  by  and  see  you  " 

But  here  Betty  fled  into  the  house,  for  the  angry 
voice  was  rising,  and  she  did  not  know  who  might 
be  witnessing  the  scene. 

At  all  events,  it  was  over.  The  worst  was 
passed.  Roger  was  pacified,  Nathalie  enlightened, 
Mrs.  Archer  fully  informed.  The  question  of 
where  Betty  herself  should  live,  and  how,  if  her 
stepmother  persisted  in  making  Edge  water  too 
uncomfortable  for  her,  had  yet  to  be  met ;  and  as 
her  little  paint-brush  was  the  weapon  she  always 
thought  of  in  possible  battles  with  the  world,  she 
went  to  her  painting-table  now  and  began  to  work 
with  energy,  trying  to  forget  all  other  thoughts  in 
this  interest. 

But  the  storm  without  did  not  die  down  so 
quickly  as  she  hoped  it  would.  One  victim  of 
Mrs.  Archer's  indignation  having  escaped  her,  that 
lady  looked  about  for  another.  She  concluded 
there  would  be  tangible  satisfaction  in  a  talk  with 
Russell  Andreas  at  the  present  juncture.  Despite 
an  undercurrent  of  fear  of  giving  permanent 
offense  to  one  of  the  best  families,  she  could  not 


GREEK   MEETS    GREEK.  253 

resist  her  own  craving  to  punish  that  exasperat- 
ingly  irresponsible  Free  Lance. 

She  found  him  swinging  in  a  hammock.  In 
fact,  he  saw  her  first  through  the  meshes  of  his 
couch,  as  she  came  with  determined  tread  across 
the  lawn,  and  he  weighed  the  possibilities  of  decent 
escape  with  depressing  results. 

"  Ye  gods  and  little  fishes  !  I  'm  in  for  it !  "  he 
murmured.  "  Don't  remember  a  thing  about  Phila 
delphia  !  I  've  forgotten  the  whole  outfit,  from 
Independence  Hall  to  the  public  buildings  !  " 

With  prompt  courtesy,  all  the  same,  he  sprang 
from  his  couch.  "  Would  n't  you  like  this  ham 
mock,  Mrs.  Archer  ?  " 

"  I  never  get  into  a  hammock,"  she  responded, 
with  a  fierceness  so  disproportionate  to  the  subject 
that  the  young  man's  jaw  fell,  and  he  sank  upon 
the  netting  in  a  sitting  posture  and  awaited  de 
velopments. 

Mrs.  Archer  took  a  rustic  chair  near  him.  "  I 
have  just  been  having  the  most  surprising  talk 
with  my  daughter  Betty,  Mr.  Andreas." 

"  All  right !  All  right !  Come  on,  old  lady  !  " 
was  the  mental  response  which  greeted  this  an 
nouncement,  though  outwardly  Russell's  counte 
nance  only  composed  itself,  and  he  adopted  an 
attitude  of  polite  attention. 

"  She  tells  me  her  engagement  to  Roger  is  off." 

Andreas  bowed.  "  They  have  been  kind  enough 
to  confide  the  fact  to  me."  The  cold  and  serious 


254  MJSS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

formality  into  which  the  speaker  seemed  to  freeze 
had  far  from  a  cooling  effect  upon  his  interlocutor. 

"  He  is  your  friend,  I  believe,"  she  said,  with 
elaborate  sarcasm. 

"I  believe  so." 

"  And  you  believe  also,  no  doubt,  that  you  have 
treated  him  well." 

"Why?"  asked  Andreas,  with  exasperating 
courtesy.  "  Don't  you  ?  " 

Mrs.  Archer  emitted  a  scornful  laugh.  "  Peo 
ple's  standards  differ.  You  have  come  here,"  she 
began  to  glare  at  him  again,  "  and  have  flirted  with 
his  fiancee  until  he  naturally  believes  that  it  is  for 
her  happiness  that  he  should  give  her  up." 

"  Are  n't  you  too  excited  to  have  full  command 
of  yourself  ? "  asked  Russell  with  gentle  sugges 
tion.  "  Shall  we  not  postpone  this  interview  — 
indefinitely?" 

"  No  doubt  you  would  like  to.  What  are  girls' 
hearts  to  a  man  like  you  ?  Thanks  to  you,  Betty 
may  be  a  struggling  old  maid  all  her  life." 

A  darkness  overspread  the  young  man's  face. 
"  Be  kind  enough  not  to  speak  of  Miss  Archer  in 
a  cheapening  manner." 

"  Indeed  !  I  shall  not  ask  you  how  I  may  speak 
of  her ! " 

"  Yes,  you  will."  The  answer  was  so  quick,  and 
the  insouciant  manner  had  changed  to  an  attitude 
so  masterful,  that  Mrs.  Archer  could  not  retort  at 
once  for  surprise,  nor  could  she  drop  her  gaze  from 
the  eyes  that  held  her. 


GREEK   MEETS    GREEK.  255 

"  You  will  speak  of  her  with  respect,  or  you  will 
have  no  listener  in  me." 

She  still  stared,  fascinated. 

"  There  are  two  people  in  the  world  to  whom 
Miss  Archer's  happiness  is  of  supreme  importance. 
One  is  Roger  Gerard  and  the  other  is  myself.  Do 
you  suppose  we  are  going  to  permit  you  to  make 
her  wretched,  if  she  chooses  to  call  her  heart  her 
own  as  well  as  her  soul  ?  From  now  on  you  will 
be  accountable  to  us  for  every  word  and  action 
concerning  her." 

Mrs.  Archer  caught  her  breath.  "  Well !  Per 
haps  you  will  tell  me  by  what  right  you  interfere !  " 
she  ejaculated. 

Andreas  looked  out  to  the  creek  frowningly,  and 
drew  his  lips  together  in  a  meditative,  noiseless 
whistle. 

At  last  he  faced  her  again.  "  Perhaps  it  would 
be  better  all  around  if  I  should,"  he  answered. 
"  My  right  arises  from  the  fact  that  I  love  Miss 
Archer." 

"  As  a  brother,  I  suppose,"  responded  the  other 
with  a  sneer. 

Andreas  was  looking  off  again.  An  irrepressi 
ble  long  breath  rose  in  his  throat. 

"  No,"  he  answered,  "  not  as  a  brother." 

Mrs.  Archer  started  and  actually  paled  in  a 
revulsion  of  feeling.  What  would  she  not  give 
to  undo  the  work  of  the  past  fifteen  minutes ! 
"  She  believes  you  care  for  some  one  else,"  she  said 
faintly,  after  a  stunned  silence. 


256          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"I  know  she  does.  Do  not  undeceive  her.  I 
am  capable  of  managing  this  affair,  if  yon  will  have 
the  goodness  to  permit  me,  and  I  shall  try  to  take 
my  failure  decently  if  it  comes.  I  am  sorry  to  be 
discourteous,  but  the  greatest  favor  you  can  do  to 
all  parties  now  is  to  efface  yourself  so  far  as  cir 
cumstances  will  permit." 

Mrs.  Archer  rose,  too  humiliated  even  for  anger. 
"I  attacked  you  under  a  misunderstanding,"  she 
said  miserably. 

"  I  know  you  did." 

She  waited  undecidedly.  It  was  all  like  a  bad 
dream.  How  she  would  have  enjoyed  the  position 
of  welcoming  this  man  graciously  as  a  son !  And 
here  she  was  reduced  to  standing  before  him  as  a 
culprit,  —  before  him,  an  Andreas ! 

"I  suppose  you  won't  shake  hands  with  me?" 
she  said,  after  a  short,  painful  silence. 

He  had  risen  when  she  did. 

"  It  would  be  as  well  to  wait,  perhaps,"  he  an 
swered,  with  a  slight  inclination  of  the  head.  "  Let 
us  see  what  the  future  brings  forth." 

Tingling  with  mortification,  she  turned  and  went 
back  to  the  house. 

"  Betty,  I  feel  ill,"  she  said  abruptly,  entering 
the  studio.  "  I  've  a  raging  headache." 

The  girl  instantly  pushed  back  her  chair  and 
rose  with  a  look  of  concern. 

Her  stepmother  did  indeed  appear  to  be  suffer 
ing.  In  a  minute  more  the  girl  had  made  her  lie 


GREEK  MEETS    GREEK.  257 

down,  covered  her  lightly,  and  was  smoothing  her 
forehead  with  cool  fingers. 

Mrs.  Archer  lay  with  closed  eyes,  while  Betty 
wondered  at  her  passivity,  for  it  was  not  thus  that 
her  stepmother  usually  bore  physical  pain. 

From  time  to  time  the  prostrate  woman  opened 
her  eyes  and  looked  off  into  space,  and  once  she 
thanked  Betty  for  her  ministrations. 

"  She  must  be  going  to  be  dangerously  ill," 
thought  the  girl,  amazed. 

"  I  'm  afraid  yo  're  worrying  very  much  about 
Roger  and  me,"  she  said  timidly. 

The  gentleness  of  her  tone  falling  upon  Mrs. 
Archer's  harrowed  feelings  brought  that  lady 
nearer  to  shame  and  contrition  than  she  had  been 
for  years.  In  her  crushed  condition  it  would  have 
been  a  relief  to  confess  all  to  the  kind  young  girl, 
but  she  did  not  dare.  Russell's  strong  face  seemed 
still  commanding  her  to  efface  herself. 

"  No,  it  is  n't  that.  You  and  Roger  are  of  age. 
You  must  settle  your  affairs  between  yourselves," 
she  returned. 

And  in  the  alarm  created  by  this  stingless  reply, 
Betty  began  casting  about  in  her  mind  as  to  what 
doctor  had  better  be  sent  for. 

But  it  proved  that  Mrs.  Archer  did  not  require 
a  physician.  She  soon  rose  from  her  bed,  but  with 
a  passive  and  colorless  demeanor  astonishing  to 
behold. 

"  Do  you  believe  in  sudden  conversion?  "  asked 


258         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Betty  of  Andreas,  as  the  two  were  on  their  way  to 
parade  that  afternoon.  Miss  Archer  wished  to  be 
the  one  to  break  the  news  to  Gerard  of  Nathalie's 
departure. 

"  Why  ?  "  returned  her  escort.  "  Has  Junius  got 
'em  again  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Andreas !  " 

"You  needn't  be  horrified.  Life  would  be  a 
dreary  waste  to  Junius  without  his  semi-annual 
conversion." 

"  Well,  it  is  n't  Junius.  It 's  Mrs.  Archer.  I  'm 
right  frightened  about  her." 

"More  apt  to  be  apoplexy  than  religion  in  her 
case,  is  n't  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  Mr.  Andreas  !  She  'd  be  so  shocked  if 
she  heard  you  that  her  crimps  would  stand  on  end ! 
She  had  a  regular  tantrum  this  morning  about 
Roger  and  me,  and  now  suddenly  she  seems  just  as 
gentle  as  a  lamb." 

"  Quite  a  relief  sometimes  when  the  wolf  bor 
rows  the  sheep's  togs,  is  n't  it  ?  "  returned  Andreas, 
laughing  heartily.  It  touched  his  sense  of  humor 
irresistibly  to  picture  the  erstwhile  virago  amazing 
Betty  with  her  change  of  heart. 

"  Why,  if  she  would  be  all  the  time  like  this, 
we  could  have  a  right  peaceful  life,"  said  the  girl, 
with  such  nai've  wistfulness  that  Russell  stopped 
laughing  and  his  eyes  grew  tender. 

"  I  wonder  if  you  suspect  what  a  nice  girl  you 
are,"  he  said. 


GREEK   MEETS    GREEK.  259 

"The  idea!"  She  laughed  in  her  turn.  "I  don't 
know  why  it  is,  but  you  always  seem  to  be  getting 
a  false  impression  of  me,  Mr.  Andreas.  I  reckon 
if  you  saw  me  in  some  moods  you  'd  change  yo' 
mind.  Roger  could  tell  you  —  but  he  never  will, 
that 's  one  comfort." 

They  were  walking  instead  of  riding  to  the  Fort 
to-day,  and  they  moved  along  the  quiet  road  in 
silence  for  a  time. 

"  But  I  've  been  wishing,"  she  went  on  shyly,  "  if 
you  don't  mind,  that  you  'd  tell  me  a  little  more 
about  the  girl,  — if  you  really  don't  mind." 

"  I  don't  in  the  least,"  replied  Russell  promptly. 

"  I  thought  perhaps  you  might  like  to  talk  about 
her,  you  know." 

"  I  do ;  but  I  did  n't  want  to  bore  you." 

"  I  thought  perhaps  that  was  it."  Betty  looked 
up  at  him  with  a  smile,  and  was  faintly  surprised 
to  find  that  he,  too,  was  smiling.  It  would  have 
seemed  more  fitting  to  find  his  countenance  over 
spread  with  a  fine  melancholy. 

Miss  Archer's  eyes  were  good,  and  she  was  an 
artist.  She  had  observed  the  fact  that  nature  had 
so  arranged  Russell  Andreas's  countenance  that  all 
the  expressions  she  had  so  far  caught  were  becom 
ing  to  it. 

Perhaps  he  discerned  her  present  critical  thought. 
At  all  events,  he  composed  his  features  as  he  be 
gan  :— 

"  She  is  a  rather  tall  girl." 


260  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  That  is  good.  Large  men  ought  not  to  marry 
tiny  girls,  as  they  so  often  do,  and  leave  the  tall 
girls  to  short  men." 

"  But  she  is  slender  and  graceful,  and  has  n't 
the  effect  of  largeness.  There  is  a  sort  of  bright 
softness  about  her  altogether,  even  to  her  voice ; 
and  her  manners  and  movements,  —  well,  to  me 
they  are  simply  perfection." 

"  She  must  be  lovely,"  said  Miss  Archer  thought- 
fully. 

"  Hard  not  to  be  able  to  get  her,  eh  ?  " 

"  Hard !  "  The  girl  looked  up  at  him  sympathe 
tically.  "  But  you  have  n't  told  me  how  she  looks 
yet." 

"  No,  I  'm  afraid  I  can't.  In  the  first  place,  I 
fancy  she  does  n't  look  to  any  one  else  as  she  does 
to  me ;  and,  in  the  second,  I  can't  describe  a  spirit, 
and  that  is  what  I  see  in  the  depths  of  her  eyes  and 
the  expression  of  her  lips." 

"  How  beautifully  you  love  her ! "  said  Betty 
gently.  "  If  only  there  were  any  other  obstacle 
except  the  one  you  mentioned." 

"A  wonderful  thing  has  happened,"  said  An 
dreas,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  road  and  his  face  grave 
enough  now.  "  Since  the  night  I  talked  to  you 
about  it  I  have  heard  that  my  rival  is  no  more. 
Moreover,  I've -good  reason  to  believe  that  she 
was  not  so  deeply  attached  to  him  as  I  thought." 

"  Why,  Mr.  Andreas !  " 

"  But  she  does  n't  care  for  me.  How  does  that 
alter  matters  ?  " 


GREEK   MEETS    GREEK.  261 

"  But  she  will  care  for  you.  Give  her  a  little 
time.  Surely  you  cannot  love  her  in  this  way  for 
nothing !  " 

"  Bless  you  for  those  words !  But  what  would 
my  next  step  better  be?  Would  you  tell  her 
frankly  —  tell  her  all  —  at  once  ?  " 

"  N-no."  Betty  shook  her  head  judicially.  "  Give 
her  time  to  stop  thinking  about  the  other  one." 

"  But  I  .must  bring  myself  to  her  notice  in  some 
way." 

"Yes  —  you"  Russell,  watching  her  nar 

rowly  and  looking  for  a  straw  to  cling  to,  saw  her 
face  change.  "  I  reckon  it  would  be  better  fo'  you 
to  go  and  stay  where  she  is  as  long  as  you  can,"  the 
girl  answered  slowly. 

There  was  a  ringing  in  Andreas's  ears.  She  dis 
liked  the  thought  of  his  going !  A  blind  man 
might  discern  it.  It  was  a  trifling  indication,  but 
it  was  something. 

He  crushed  down  his  elation.  "Thank  you," 
he  said  briefly.  "  I  '11  see  how  business  turns.  I 
wonder  what  took  the  Dexters  off  in  such  a 
hurry?" 

"  They  had  to  go."  Miss  Archer  sighed. 
"  What  wiU  Eoger  say  ?  " 

This  action  of  the  Dexters  had  removed  the  last 
doubt  from  Betty's  mind  as  to  Nathalie's  attitude 
toward  Gerard;  but  as  yet  she  had  not  come  to 
a  peaceful  hour  with  leisure  to  cogitate  upon  the 
pleasant  certainty  of  Roger's  future ;  and  now  an 


262  MTSS  ARCHER   ARCHER. 

unexplained  quietness,  almost  depression,  fell  upon 
her  spirits,  and  she  allowed  her  companion  to 
monopolize  the  conversation  until  the  Fort  was 
reached. 

It  was  a  new  Roger,  or  rather  the  old  one,  as 
sured,  calm,  with  smiling  eyes,  who  came  to  greet 
them  under  the  live-oaks. 

The  reassurance  and  pleasure  that  Betty  was 
conscious  she  ought  to  experience  in  seeing  him 
thus  rehabilitated  failed  to  swell  her  heart. 

"  Mr.  Andreas  thinks  I  'm  such  a  nice  girl.  He 
ought  to  see  into  ma  mean  soul  now,"  she  thought. 
"  Just  as  soon  as  I  find  out  that  other  people  are 
right  happy  and  don't  need  me,  I  begin  to  mope ! " 
And  with  this  bracing  reflection  she  smiled  upon 
Roger  as  she  put  her  hand  in  his.  Andreas  strolled 
out  of  earshot,  according  to  her  previous  instruc 
tions. 

"No,  she  did  n't  come  with  us,"  she  answered  to 
the  lieutenant's  question.  "  The  fact  is,  she  has 
gone  away." 

Gerard's  hand  fell  unconsciously  on  the  hilt  of 
his  sword,  and  he  looked  stern  in  his  surprise. 

"  Certainly  I  '11  give  you  satisfaction,  if  you  '11 
let  me  have  the  choice  of  weapons.  I  'm  partial  to 
mahl-sticks  maself." 

"  This  is  a  great  surprise,"  said  Gerard,  trying 
to  recover  himself.  "  Miss  Dexter  of  course  did 
not  know  of  it  last  evening." 

"  Not  until  very  late  in  the  evening." 


GREEK  MEETS    GREEK.  263 

"  They  received  some  sudden  news  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Nathalie  did  —  from  me." 

Miss  Archer's  smiling  face,  trying  hard  for  its 
usual  demureness,  was  enigmatical.  The  band 
was  playing  loudly  as  it  marched  after  the  even 
gait  of  the  drum-major.  By  the  way,  government 
should  make  an  appropriation,  if  necessary,  in 
order  that  the  field-musicians  of  Fortress  Monroe 
need  not  have  so  forlornly  meagre  a  repertoire. 

Gerard  felt  an  added  irritation  in  the  proximity 
of  the  band  just  now  with  its  well-worn  chords. 

"  Please  .don't  give  me  any  conundrums,  Betty," 
he  said. 

"  Confess,  then,  that  it  is  an  important  matter 
to  you." 

He  looked  at  her  dumbly. 

"  You  will  have  to,  some  time,  Roger,  if  things 
are  with  you  as  I  think  ;  and  I  don't  want  to  make 
any  blunders."  The  mischief  had  died  from  her 
sweet  face,  and  her  eyes  interrogated  him  affec 
tionately. 

"  No  one  can  take  your  place.  You  understand 
that,"  he  said  at  last. 

"  I  should  think  not,"  she  returned  gayly.  "  As 
Mr.  Andreas  says,  '  not  if  I  see  her  first ! '  But," 
she  lowered  her  voice,  "  it  is  that  other  place  we 
are  talking  about." 

"Then  I  do  confess  it,  Betty!"  They  ex 
changed  a  brief  hand-clasp,  much  to  the  delecta 
tion  of  a  sixteen-year-old  girl  near  by,  who  was 


264  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

much  divided  between  parade  and  the  eyes  of  the 
officer  of  the  day,  and  thereafter  allowed  the  ranks 
of  artillery-men  to  present,  port,  or  carry  arms 
without  her,  while  she  attended  to  that  lucky  girl's 
delightful  flirtation. 

"  It  is  fortunate  fo'  you  that  ma  tongue  is  not 
tied  by  any  confidences  on  her  part,"  said  Betty. 

The  officer  shook  his  head  humbly.  "  There 
were  none  to  make.  I  am  afraid  she  cares  only  for 
her  music.  Why  should  she  think  of  me  ?  " 

"  I  could  find  a  few  reasons,  if  I  took  time  to  it, 
I  fancy ;  but  she  thought,  like  everybody  else,  that 
you  were  bespoken,  —  until  last  night.  When  we 
came  home  from  the  dance  I  told  her  how  things 
really  were."  Miss  Archer's  eyes  were  eloquent, 
as  she  nodded  impressively. 

"Well?" 

"  Well,  it  frightened  Miss  Muffet  away." 

"  But  why  should  it  ?  "  earnestly. 

Betty  laughed.  "  I  don't  know.  Do  you  ? 
Girls  are  n't  very  often  afraid  of  military  men." 

"  And  why  should  she  be  afraid  of  me  ?  "  asked 
Gerard,  much  perplexed ;  and  the  question  fur 
nished  his  companion  so  much  amusement  that  the 
sixteen-year-old  decided  that  Roger  must  be  as 
witty  as  he  was  handsome. 

"  She  did  n't  say  she  was,"  returned  the  girl  at 
last.  "  On  the  contrary,  she  left  her  good-by  and 
her  regrets  just  as  politely  as  possible,  and  never 
mentioned  being:  afraid." 


GREEK   MEETS    GREEK.  265 

"  Why  do  you  think  it  is  so  funny  ?  "  pleaded 
the  lieutenant  plaintively. 

"  Honestly,  Roger,  I  wonder  how  any  man  man 
ages  his  own  love-affair  unless  he  has  some  woman 
to  help  him  !  I  'm  as  sure  as  possible  that  if  it 
were  n't  fo'  me  you  would  take  her  running  off  so 
as  a  discouraging  sign." 

"  Indeed  I  should.     And  why  don't  you  ?  " 

"  Because,"  Betty  gave  him  a  wise  nod,  "  that  is 
precisely  what  I  should  have  done  in  her  place. 
Suppose  she  believes  she  cares  for  a  man  who 
doesn't  care  fo'  her?" 

"  Do  you  think  she  could  imagine  that  ?  "  And 
as  Roger  uttered  the  exclamation  Miss  Archer  saw 
for  the  first  time  a  flash  of  what  those  eyes  of  his 
could  express. 

"  Of  course,  dear.  Have  you  forgotten  your 
own  loyalty  ?  " 

"  I  see.  I  'm  unbalanced.  I  have  lost  count  of 
common  sense  as  well  as  time  of  late.  Betty," 
with  sudden  grateful  fervor,  "  you  trump,  you  sis 
ter,  you  angel! " 

"  Ahem !  "  coughed  Andreas  behind  his  hand. 
He  had  come  up  in  time  to  hear  the  close  of  this 
apostrophe  ;  and  the  sixteen-year-old,  who  had  just 
succeeded  in  getting  her  attention  back  to  parade, 
began  to  experience  all  the  delicious  despair  in 
duced  by  a  three-ringed  circus. 

"  Come  back,  come  back !  "  laughed  Betty,  as 
Russell  turned  away.  "  Roger  is  only  practicing 
on  me." 


266          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

Andreas  was  anxious  for  an  opportunity  to  speak 
with  his  friend  alone,  and  a  little  later  it  came. 
Betty  recognized  an  acquaintance  whom  she  wished 
to  greet,  and  the  two  men  were  left  to  them 
selves. 

"  Well,  how  goes  it,  Rusty  ?  "  asked  the  lieu 
tenant. 

"  Don't  know.  I  am  thinking  of  following  Miss 
Dexter's  example.  I  've  been  hanging  about  here 
some  time.  Now  I  think  I  '11  see  if  out  of  sight 
proves  to  be  out  of  mind." 

"  And  supposing  it  does  !  " 

"  Supposing  it  does  ?  "  Andreas  gave  an  excla 
mation.  "  Then  you  can  wager  your  existence  I 
will  get  back  into  sight  in  short  order." 

"  Want  me  to  keep  you  posted  ?  " 

Russell  smiled.  "  Do  you  fancy  you  would  find 
out  anything  ?  Well,  you  are  green  !  " 

This  jeer  appeared  to  please  Gerard.  He  looked 
thoughtfully  off  into  space.  "  I  believe  I  am, 
Rusty ;  I  hope  I  am." 

"  That  is  a  modest  ambition,  I  'm  sure,"  returned 
the  other ;  "  but  I  think  I  understand.  I  know 
you  're  in  the  same  boat  with  me.  I  never  should 
have  found  it  out,  though,  if  it  hadn't  been  for 
Miss  Archer  Archer." 

"  She  is  a  wonderful  girl,"  observed  Gerard, 
with  conviction. 

"Now  you're  talking,"  returned  his  friend. 

"  This  is  a  queer  business,  Rusty."     The  lieuten- 


GREEK   MEETS    GREEK.  267 

ant's  voice  expressed  perplexity,  even  awe.  "  This 
being  captured  heart  and  soul  by  another  human 
being  is  a  very  queer  business." 

"  I  'm  finding  it  so.     With  Mr.  Gilbert,  — 

'  The  pain  that  is  almost  a  pleasure  I  'd  change 
For  the  pleasure  that 's  almost  pain,' 

if  I  had  the  chance.  But  that  will  be  as  the 
wonderful  girl  decrees.  Don't  make  the  mistake 
of  trying  to  help  me  in  this,  Roger.  Hands  off, 
please.  You'd  make  a  mess  of  it." 

"  I  'm  sure  I  should,"  agreed  Gerard  with  much 
humility.  "  Rusty,  would  you  mind  telling  me," 
the  speaker's  eyes  expressed  the  gravest  interro 
gation,  "  how  it  happened  that  you  did  n't  fall  in 
love  with  Miss  Dexter  ?  " 

Andreas  smiled  broadly  and  gestured  with  his 
head  toward  a  great  live-oak  beneath  which  Betty 
and  her  friend  were  talking.  "  There  's  the  rea 
son." 

"  But  up  at  the  Pulpit  ?     Betty  was  n't  there." 

"  I  don't  know.  Too  much  Owski,  perhaps ;  or 
perhaps  your  good  angel  was  holding  my  eyes.  I 
suspect,  though,  that  I  had  taken  one  too  many 
voyages  up  the  Potomac." 

"  You  did  n't  know  it  then,  though." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it.  I  considered  myself  fire 
proof.  Oh,  see  here !  Mrs.  Archer  has  been 
bullyragging  the  wonderful  girl  on  your  account." 

"  I  feared  that,"  said  Gerard,  his  far-away  look 


268         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

suddenly  focusing  itself  on  his  friend's  face  with 
an  alert  expression. 

"  And  after  laying  her  low  she  came  out  under 
the  trees  and  executed  a  war-dance  around  me." 

"  On  what  score  ?  " 

"  On  the  score  of  making  you  jealous."  An 
dreas  smiled  appreciatively. 

"  I  did  try  to  be  jealous  of  you,"  said  Gerard, 
with  such  seriousness  that  his  friend  laughed 
aloud. 

The  lieutenant  paid  no  attention  to  his  mirth. 
"  I  must  settle  all  that.  I  shall  have  to  have  a 
talk  with  Mrs.  Archer." 

"No  need  of  it.  I  have  forestalled  you.  If 
you  want  to  see  a  middle-aged  lady  of  florid  com 
plexion  enacting  the  role  of  Mary's  little  lamb, 
come  over  to  Edgewater." 

"  How  did  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  represented  you  and  myself  as  guardians 
of  Miss  Archer  Archer's  peace,  and  then  tried  her 
own  weapons.  Bullied  her,  in  fact.  Took  away 
her  tomahawk,  twitched  her  war-lock,  and  generally 
browbeat  her." 

"  Good.     But  will  it  last  ?  " 

"  I  think  so.  I  'm  going  to  leave  you  on  guard 
for  a  month,  and  then  perhaps  I  shall  come  back. 
Miss  Archer  Archer  knows  nothing  of  the  modus, 
and  therefore  is  almost  frightened  by  the  metamor 
phosis  in  her  stepmother.  .  Don't  tell  her  anything. 
Here  she  comes  now,  so  look  pleasant,  and  wink 
as  much  as  you  please." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A    MIGRATION. 

DEAR  MRS.  DEXTER,  —  It 's  only  two  weeks  since 
that  pleasant  morning  when  you  and  Nathalie  went 
away,  but  it  seems  much  longer.'  I  have  missed 
you  more  than  I  can  tell.  To  make  things  more 
lonely  still,.  Mr.  Andreas  left  us  a  couple  of  days 
after  you  did.  His  departure  was  sudden,  like 
yours,  but  he  had  good  reasons  for  going,  and  I 
was  glad  to  see  him  do  his  duty,  though  I  'm  sure 
he  hated  to  leave.  He  is  a  very  fine  young  man, 
I  think,  though  light  in  his  talk. 

I  have  some  sad  news  that  will  surprise  you. 
Miss  Betty's  engagement  to  Mr.  Gerard  is  broken. 
They  don't  act  as  if  it  was  sad  to  them,  though  it 
can't  be  denied  they  are  quieter  in  their  ways,  Miss 
Betty  especially  ;  but  that  is  only  respectful  to  the 
past,  as  I  look  at  it.  However  they  feel,  it  evi 
dently  has  been  a  crushing  blow  to  Mrs.  Archer. 
She  don't  act  like  the  same  woman.  If  she  should 
rear  and  tear  around  I  would  n't  be  surprised,  but 
she  's  so  quiet  and  peaceable,  I  don't  know  what  to 
make  of  it.  Sometimes  I  wonder  if  Mr.  Gerard 
has  n't  scared  her  into  not  saying  anything ;  for 
she  feels  it  just  as  sure  as  this  world.  He  comes 


270  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

over  here  just  the  same,  and  smiles  as  pleasant  as 
ever  when  he  says  "  good-evening  "  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  There  are  some  Southern  ways 
that  will  always  seein  queer  to  me. 

If  I  was  Betty  Archer,  I  should  about  lose  my 
reason  to  lose  him.  I  shall  always  like  red  stripes 
for  his  sake.  He  's  got  the  nicest  ways  and  looks 
ever  I  saw.  He  's  the  kind  of  man  would  make  a 
woman  happy,  if  she  had  to  live  alone  with  him  on 
top  of  Pike's  Peak.  And  yet  Miss  Betty  paints 
away  as  calm  as  ever,  and  laughs  with  him  as 
hearty  as  if  everything  was  all  right.  He  don't 
seem  worried  a  mite,  either.  It  beats  me ;  and 
it 's  just  knocked  Mrs.  Archer  —  I  was  going  to 
use  slang  and  say  silly,  but  I  won't,  I  '11  say  decent, 
for  she  is  real  decent,  and  don't  poke  her  nose 
into  anything. 

I  have  n't  made  up  my  mind  yet  whether  I  shall 
come  North  this  summer.  Most  likely  I  could  if  I 
wanted  to.  Business  will  be  light  here. 

I  wish  you  and  Nathalie  could  make  a  plan  to 
come  again.  I  did  enjoy  your  being  here. 

Shall  always  be  pleased  to  get  a  line  from  you. 
Don't  let  Nathalie  practice  too  much  in  the  warm 
weather.  Always  your  friend, 

PKISCILLA  TOOTHAKER. 

This  letter  found  the  Dexters  at  a  hotel  in  Bos 
ton.  Mrs.  Dexter  read  it  and  passed  it  to  Natha 
lie  in  silence.  Then  she  broke  the  seal  of  another 


A   MIGRATION.  271 

and  read  it  while  her  daughter  was  absorbing  Miss 
Priscilla's  underscored  sentences. 

"  That  is  good  advice,  —  not  to  let  you  work  too 
hard  this  summer,"  said  Mrs.  Dexter  when  the 
girl  finally  looked  up  ;  "  and  what  do  you  suppose 
I  have  here  ?  A  note  from  Cousin  Rebecca,  who 
says  that  at  the  last  minute  another  summer  at  her 
dear  cottage  is  slipping  through  her  fingers.  She 
cannot  go  to  Pulpit  Point,  and  offers  the  cottage 
to  us." 

Nathalie's  face  brightened.     "Let  us  accept  it." 

Mrs.  Dexter  looked  doubtful,  and  though  she 
did  not  speak,  Nathalie  read  her  thoughts. 

"  Mr.  Andreas  invited  his  friend  in  my  hearing 
to  come  there,"  she  explained  calmly,  "  and  Mr. 
Gerard  refused.  He  said  he  could  not  get  another 
leave  this  summer." 

"  But  the  associations?"  suggested  Mrs.  Dexter 
gently. 

Her  daughter  approached  and  kissed  her.  "  You 
are  too  tender  of  me,  mother  dear.  Are  you  wor 
rying  about  me  ?  " 

"  I  am  a  little." 

"  But  I  'm  not  pining."  Nathalie  slipped  down 
on  her  knees  and  looked  smiling  into  her  mother's 
eyes.  "I  am  glad  of  all  that  has  come  to  me,  and 
you  must  not  regret  it  either.  To  think  of  seeing 
the  Pulpit  again,  and  Cap'n  Levi  —  and  with  you  ! 
We  will  be  so  happy  !  " 

And  Mrs.  Dexter,  cheered  by  this  spontaneous 


272         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

burst,  hoped  that  the  zest  of  life  was  returning  to 
them  both. 

Nathalie  had  written  once  to  Betty  Archer  since 
leaving  Edgewater,  and  received  a  prompt  reply  ; 
but  she  had  not  written  again.  She  was  through 
with  Virginia  and  Virginians.  She  knew  she 
could  not  forget  the  two  who  had  entered  so  deeply 
into  her  life,  and  she  felt  that  no  other  man  or 
woman  could  ever  so  touch  the  quick  of  her  affec 
tions  ;  but  she  longed  that  the  sensitiveness  of  her 
memory  might  be  deadened  by  time.  She  would 
do  nothing  to  keep  it  vivid. 

Roger  Gerard  had  made  no  sign  since  last  she 
saw  him.  If  she  had  vaguely  hoped  for  a  differ 
ent  effect  of  her  flight,  she  had  given  no  expression 
either  to  the  expectation  or  the  disappointment. 

It  was  early  in  July  that  mother  and  daughter 
took  possession  of  the  cottage  at  Pulpit  Point. 
Nathalie,  ignoring  the  dull  throbs  of  feeling  that 
sights  and  sounds  evoked,  seized  Mrs.  Dexter's 
hand  and  drew  her  from  window  to  window  to  ex 
claim  over  the  noble  views.  She  pointed  out  the 
Andreas  cottage ;  she  led  her  mother  over  hum 
mock  and  through  pitfall  down  to  the  Pulpit  and 
made  her  mount  its  height ;  and  she  proudly  ex 
hibited  Cap'n  Levi. 

"  What  ye  done  with  Miss  Toothaker  ?  "  asked 
the  captain  after  the  greetings  had  passed. 

"  Left  her  down  South  among  the  roses,"  replied 
Nathalie. 


A   MIGRATION.  273 

"  That 's  clever,"  remarked  the  old  man.  If  he 
felt  that  life  would  have  been  quite  as  peaceful  had 
Nathalie  also  remained  among  the  roses,  he  did 
not  let  it  appear.  Her  pleasure  was  disarming, 
even  though  he  foresaw  another  piano-moving. 

"  Nawthin'  but  wild  roses  he-ar,"  he  continued. 

"  They  're  good  enough  for  me,"  she  responded 

gayly. 

Nevertheless,  she  was  struck  with  the  bleakness 
and  barrenness  of  Pulpit  Point  after  the  luxuriant 
vegetation  of  Edgewater. 

The  crisp,  salt  coolness  of  the  air  here  smote  her 
cheek,  and  she  recalled  the  simile  Miss  Toothaker 
had  used  one  morning  in  the  pavilion. 

"  As  much  difference  in  this  air  and  the  Pulpit's 
as  between  a  banana  and  a  cucumber,"  she  had 
said. 

The  moon  used  to  rise  at  Edgewater  behind 
massive  boughs,  through  which  the  silvery  water 
gleamed.  Here  nothing  intervened  between  sea 
and  rugged  shore. 

"  This  is  the  tonic  I  need,"  thought  Nathalie. 
"  It  is  my  native  heath.  The  balsam  fir  is  better 
for  me  than  the  magnolia.  I  need  bay  instead  of 
roses.  I  am  a  wiser  girl  than  I  was  a  year  ago." 

The  whole  of  that  first  day  she  was  occupied  in 
recalling  her  gaze  from  the  large  boulder  at  the 
right  of  the  house. 

"  Very  well,"  she  said  to  herself  at  last,  with 
determination,  "  I  will  break  that  spell."  Then 


274          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

she  walked  deliberately  to  the  boulder  in  the  sun 
set  light,  and  rested  her  hand  on  its  lichens. 

At  her  feet  on  its  further  side  was  a  strip  of 
grass  a  few  feet  wide  and  the  length  of  a  man, 
different  in  color  and  depth  from  the  surrounding 
verdure.  Her  heart  beat  in  unexpected  tumult. 

"  It  is  as  if  it  were  a  grave,"  she  thought ;  "  and 
it  is  —  it  is  a  grave !  " 

There  was  a  sudden  rush  of  tears  to  her  eyes, 
and  she  turned  in  the  sunset  glow  and  hurried 
back  toward  the  house. 

Her  mother  from  her  stand  on  the  piazza  was 
watching  her. 

"  Kun  down  to  that  bay  bush  and  bring  me  a 
bunch  of  it,  will  you,  dear  ?  "  she  called  to  the  girl. 

Of  all  mind-readers,  mothers  are  the  least  apt 
to  be  mistaken. 

There  was  plenty  to  do  to  put  the  cottage  in 
order,  and  Nathalie  knew  where  everything  was, 
for  she  and  Miss  Toothaker  had  put  all  away. 

On  the  second  busy  day  she  was  arranging  bric- 
abrac  in  the  living-room,  when  a  familiar  voice  at 
the  door  cried  :  — 

»"  Hello  the  house  !  " 

"  Already  !  "  Nathalie  turned  her  pleased  face 
and  greeted  Russell  Andreas,  who  seemed  to  fill 
the  room  as  he  came  into  it. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Miss  Nathalie  ?  How  do  you 
do,  Mrs.  Dexter  ?  "  He  shook  hands  with  them 
both,  and  the  three  seated  themselves  in  a  group. 


A   MIGRATION.  275 

"  I  was  delighted  to  hear  you  were  at  the  Pulpit 
again.  You  must  be  kind  to  my  mother,  Mrs. 
Dexter.  She  does  n't  get  out,  and  I  want  her  to 
know  you.  You  will  do  her  lots  of  good.  It 
seems  as  if  Miss  Pris  ought  to  be  about  here  some 
where,  does  n't  it?  Do  you  hear  from  her  ?  " 

"  We  have  had  one  letter,"  replied  Mrs.  Dexter, 
"  but  she  speaks  as  if  she  might  stay  in  Virginia." 

"  Indeed  ?  "  Andreas  turned  toward  Nathalie. 
"  And  what  is  the  latest  from  Miss  Archer 
Archer  ?  " 

"  The  latest  and  earliest  are  one.  We  have 
only  exchanged  one  little  letter  since  we  parted. 
I'm  afraid  neither  of  us  likes  to  write." 

Nathalie  wondered  how  much  feeling  lay  behind 
the  bright  attentiveness  of  his  countenance.  It  had 
occurred  to  her  that  this  young  man  might  have 
had  an  influence  in  Betty  Archer's  love  affair. 

The  sight  of  him  now  in  his  outing  clothes  re 
called  last  summer  too  vividly.  She  was  sorry  he 
had  come  ;  sorry  he  would  make  her  task  of  for 
getting  so  much  harder.  Each  moment  she  was 
dreading,  yet  longing,  to  hear  him  mention  Gerard. 
The  only  reference  that  had  been  made  to  him 
since  she  came  North  was  the  little  sentence  in 
Betty's  letter  which  mentioned  Roger's  regret  at 
her  sudden  disappearance.  Amiable,  courteous 
Betty  could  not  have  said  less. 

"  Oh,  I  'm  disappointed  in  you,  Miss  Nathalie," 
said  Andreas.  "  I  was  hoping  you  would  be  the 


276          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

tie  that  binds  the  North  to  the  South.  Gerard 
and  I  have  for  a  long  time  relied  on  the  philosophy 
of  thought  transference  for  our  communications." 

"  You  are  such  a  transcendental  creature,"  re 
marked  Nathalie. 

"  Don't  laugh  at  me.  Remember  how  sensitive 
my  feelings  are.  Then  I  'm  afraid  you  can't  help 
me  either,  Mrs.  Dexter.  I  fear  you  cannot  give 
me  news  of  my  valued  friend,  Mrs.  Archer." 

Mrs.  Dexter  smiled.  "  I  fear  I  can't  except 
at  second-hand.  Miss  Toothaker  says  she  is  —  is 
improving." 

"  Did  any  one  think  there  was  room  for  improve 
ment  ?  "  asked  Russell.  "  As  I  say,  I  am  far  from 
being  a  complete  letter-writer ;  but  when  it  came 
to  separation  from  Mrs.  Archer,  I  discovered  that 
indeed  '  Love  will  find  a  way.'  I  gathered  myself 
together  for  a  mighty  effort,  and  I  wrote  her  a 
letter." 

"  Indeed  ?     Did  she  reply  ?  " 

"  Reply  ? "  Andreas  smiled  consciously  upon 
Mrs.  Dexter,  then  lowered  his  eyes  and  bit  his  lip 
in  coy  embarrassment.  "  You  evidently  do  not 
comprehend  the  state  of  affairs  between  Mrs. 
Archer  and  me.  She  did  indeed  reply,  —  beguiling- 
creature, —  since  when  I  have  written  her  again." 

"  A  remarkable  case  of  devotion,"  said  Nathalie. 
"  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  what  you  are 
after." 

Andreas   regarded   her   reproachfully.      "Is   it 


A   MIGRATION.  277 

difficult  to  see  what  I  was  after?  I  have  been 
asking  Mrs.  Archer  to  come  to  the  Pulpit.  I  want 
to  stray  with  her  in  the  forest,  to  guide  her  steps 
down  the  rocky  ravines  ;  to  support  her  delicate 
form  among  the  rioting  waves.  I  must,  to  be 
happy,  —  I  must  have  Mrs.  Archer  here  during 
the  next  moon,  to  sit  with  her,  shielded  from  the 
wind,  among  the  rocky  ledges,  and  watch  the 
masses  of  white  foam  break  at  our  feet." 

"  And  your  mother  so  delicate  !  "  said  Nathalie 
accusingly. 

Andreas,  smiled  rather  guiltily.  "  She  can  stand 
it  for  a  fortnight.  Beside,  my  dear  ladies  both," 
with  new  courage,  "you  have  never  seen  Mrs. 
Archer  on  her  good  behavior.  You  remember 
what  Miss  Pris  told  you  of  her  improvement? 
Well,  I  did  that,  all  with  my  little  hatchet.  I 
assure  you  with  pardonable  pride  that  I  accom 
plished  that  reform ! " 

"  What  did  you  do,  Mr.  Andreas  ? "  asked 
Nathalie,  with  lively  interest. 

He  gave  her  an  impressive  look.  "  As  if  I 
should  tell  any  one  !  Why,  supposing  the  mission 
ary  societies  were  to  get  hold  of  it :  do  you  suppose 
I  should  be  allowed  to  remain  in  the  insurance 
business  ?  Not  a  day !  I  should  be  packed  off 
bag  and  baggage  among  the  savages,  where  my 
humanizing  powers  could  have  scope." 

Nathalie  gazed  at  him  thoughtfully.  "  Do  you 
believe  Betty  will  come  ?  " 


278  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Betty  ?  "  Mr.  Andreas  frowned  and  appeared 
to  tax  his  memory.  "  Betty  ?  Oh,  yes !  I  re 
member  now.  Mrs.  Archer  has  a  stepdaughter. 
Yes,  I  think  if  my  friend  conies  she  will  bring  Miss 
Archer  Archer.  It  would  n't  be  exactly  safe  to 
leave  her  at  home." 

"Not  safe  for  Mrs.  Archer,  surely,"  remarked 
Miss  Dexter  dryly. 

When  Russell  had  by  slow  and  easy  stages 
finally  left  mother  and  daughter  by  themselves, 
Mrs.  Dexter  spoke  :  — 

"  There,  you  see,  Nathalie  !  " 

"  But  I  don't  mind,"  returned  the  girl  quickly. 
"Mr.  Andreas  will  absorb  Betty.  I  shall  have 
my  practicing.  It  will  only  be  for  two  weeks." 

"Perhaps.  I  think  this  looks  decidedly  as  if 
dear  Betty  had  a  new  lover." 

Nathalie's  piano  came  soon,  and  she  threw  her 
self  into  her  work  again  with  abandon,  and  con 
scious  of  her  mother's  devoted  espionage,  she 
assumed  a  cheerfulness  and  interest  in  the  small 
happenings  of  their  daily  life  which  served  a  double 
purpose ;  for  Mrs.  Dexter  became  more  and  more 
reassured,  and  we  all  know  that  conscientiously  to 
assume  a  virtue,  even  if  one  has  it  not,  brings  that 
virtue  ever  nearer. 

One  day  Russell  broke  in  upon  her  practicing, 
some  excitement  changing  his  ordinarily  impertur 
bable  manner. 

"  She  is  coming  this  morning !  "  he  exclaimed. 


A   MIGRATION.  279 

Nathalie  wheeled  around  on  the  stool.  "  Oh, 
yes,"  she  smiled  at  him.  "  Mrs.  Archer." 

"Yes.  Won't  you  go  to  the  boat  with  me? 
You  know  mother  "  — 

"  Certainly  I  will  be  your  mother  pro  tern. ;  but 
wouldn't  you  rather  have  mine?  It  would  be 
more  appropriate,  would  n't  it  —  to  meet  Mrs. 
Archer,  you  know?" 

So  Nathalie  laughingly  set  out  with  the  expec 
tant  young,  man,  who  would  have  been  very  much 
surprised  to  suspect  with  what  effort  she  was  steel 
ing  herself  for  this  meeting.  And  she  again  would 
have  been  all  sympathy  had  she  known  the  palpi 
tation  that  was  agitating  Betty's  breast  out  there 
on  the  steamer,  already  plainly  visible,  threading 
its  way  among  the  islands  of  Casco  Bay. 

The  girl  was  half  ill  with  the  excitement  of  her 
novel  journey  and  its  goal.  Her  stepmother  had 
had  to  use  considerable  persuasion  to  convince  her 
that  this  trip  was  feasible  and  best ;  but  ably  aided 
by  Roger,  she  had  carried  the  day  after  the  recep 
tion  of  a  touching  note  from  Mrs.  Andreas,  who 
called  herself  one  of  the  "  shut-ins  "  and  expressed 
a  keen  longing  to  know  her  son's  friends. 

Mrs.  Archer's  walk  and  conversation  had  con 
tinued  so  placable  that  Betty  never  ceased  to 
marvel  and  be  glad ;  but  now,  with  the  shores  of 
Pulpit  Point  indicated  to  her,  she  turned  to  her 
stepmother  for  a  last  warning,  which  she  did  not 
dare  to  neglect. 


280          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  You  used  to  feel  quite  strongly  about  Mr.  An- 
dreas's  attentions  to  me,"  she  said.  "  I  feel  as  if  I 
cert'nly  ought  to  remind  you  again  that  he  is  very 
devoted  to  another  girl.  I  have  an  idea  that  the 
chief  reason  he  is  glad  to  have  me  come  is  to  talk 
to  me  about  her.  It 's  natural  he  should  n't  like 
to  write  it." 

And  Mrs.  Archer,  on  her  way  to  be  a  guest  be 
neath  the  roof  of  an  Andreas,  and  secure  in  her 
knowledge,  was  doubly  intrenched  in  good  be 
havior,  and  made  answer  most  soothing :  — 

"  I  understand  quite  well,  my  dear.  Don't  fear 
that  I  shall  disturb  you  in  any  way." 

Nathalie  and  Russell  were  ready  with  waving 
handkerchiefs  as  soon  as  the  passengers'  faces  were 
distinguishable ;  and  the  length  of  time  it  took  for 
the  boat  to  make  her  landing  seemed  more  tedious 
than  usual. 

To  Nathalie's  fancy  there  was  something  exotic 
about  Betty's  sweet,  grave  face,  so  far  from  its 
proper  environment.  The  road  had  never  looked 
so  grim,  the  hill  so  bare.  Cap'n  Levi's  voice  had 
never  sounded  so  strident ;  but  while  Miss  Archer 
Archer  evidently  wondered,  it  was  with  an  eager 
interest. 

"  I  reckon  still  it 's  all  a  dream,"  she  said,  as  at 
last  Nathalie  embraced  her. 

Andreas  gave  a  quick,  low  bow  and  a  hand-shake 
to  his  elder  guest;  and  then  Miss  Dexter  dis 
covered  that  it  was  indeed  Mrs.  Archer  she  had 


A   MIGRATION.  281 

come  to  meet,  and  she  passively  allowed  herself 
to  be  packed  into  Cap'n  Levi's  wagon  with  her 
erstwhile  foe  and  started  off,  while  Russell  and 
Betty  walked  slowly  up  the  hill. 

"  This  is  so  good  of  you,"  he  said  with  satisfac 
tion.  "  Now  suspend  all  judgment  of  us  till  you 
get  to  the  cottages.  We  're  not  pretty ;  we  are 
grand." 

"  Yo  're  still  our  modest  Mr.  Andreas,"  she  an 
swered. 

He  stepped  to  the  roadside  and  gathered  a  hand 
ful  of  the  large  daisies  that  abounded. 

"  Even  the  daisies  are  n't  modest  here,"  he  re 
plied,  as  he  offered  them  to  her.  "  So  what  can 
you  expect  ?  " 

She  tucked  the  blossoms  in  her  belt  and  looked 
about  her.  "This  is  all  so  different.  I  cert'nly 
am  in  a  new  world." 

"  I  hope  it  will  be  a  satisfactory  one." 

"  We  think  you  were  very,  very  good  to  ask  us, 
—  so  does  Roger ;  but  I  know  I  have  a  charm  fo' 
you.  I  'in  yo'  confidante-in-chief ,  am  I  not  ?  " 

She  gave  him  a  quick  smile  and  turn  of  the 
head. 

"  Yes.     Oh,  yes." 

"  I  suppose  you  have  lots  to  tell  me." 

"  I  have  that."  Andreas  heaved  an  involuntary 
sigh,  and  then  he  smiled  down  upon  her.  "But 
I  '11  let  you  get  your  bearings  first.  We  have 
plenty  of  time,  —  plenty  of  time." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

BESIDE   THE   BOULDER. 

MRS.  DEXTER  and  Nathalie  met  a  number  of 
domestic  problems,  which  could  so  well  be  solved 
by  Miss  Toothaker's  presence  that  that  efficient 
person  was  finally  summoned,  and  so  managed 
her  affairs  that  a  very  few  days  after  the  reception 
of  Mrs.  Dexter's  telegram,  she  was  again  moving 
about  the  cottage  at  Pulpit  Point. 

"  I  declare  for  it,  don't  time  fly  ?  "  she  demanded 
of  Nathalie.  "  Who  'd  think  't  was  a  year  sincie 
Mr.  Gerard  fenced  that  grass  for  me !  Has  n't  it 
come  up  good  this  year?  It  does  seem  a  shame 
he  shouldn't  be  here  now.  He's  the  only  one 
lackin'." 

Of  course  Russell  Andreas  was  early  in  his  wel 
come  of  the  housekeeper. 

"  Well ! "  she  exclaimed,  as  she  came  one  morn 
ing  to  the  kitchen  window,  where  he  had  paused. 

"  I  knew  where  to  find  my  charmer,"  he  said, 
removing  his  cap  and  putting  in  his  hand  to  take 
the  loose  and  brief  shake  Miss  Toothaker  accorded 
him. 

"  Ain't  this  great?  I  did  n't  much  think  when 
the  Archers  started  off  I  'd  be  followin'  'em  up  so 
close,"  she  remarked,  smiling. 


BESIDE    THE   BOULDER.  283 

"  You  must  excuse  my  not  being  at  the  dock  to 
welcome  you,  Miss  Pris,  but  Miss  Archer  and  I 
were  away  fishing  just  at  the  time  of  your  arrival." 

"  Oh,  you  were,  were  you  ?  How  's  Mrs.  Archer? 
Broke  loose  yet  ?  " 

Russell  grinned  broadly.  "  I  can't  think  what 
you  mean  by  referring  in  such  terms  to  the  mildest- 
mannered  lady  of  my  acquaintance." 

"  I   know.     Mild   as   a   moonbeam,  ain't   she  ? 
Well,  it  gets  me.     All  I  could  think  of  when  she 
turned  around   so  was  that   place   in   my  grand 
mother's  primer  where  it  told  about 
'  Young  Obadias, 
David,  and  Josias, 
All  was  pious.' 

That  woman  's  got  somethin'  possessin'  her  mind ; 
and  I  don't  believe  it 's  religion.  Just  as  sure  as 
you  're  standin'  there,  Mr.  Gerard  could  tell  what 
it  is  if  he  wanted  to  ;  "  and  Miss  Toothaker  gave 
a  nod  and  a  prodigious  wink  which  contorted  the 
whole  left  side  of  her  face. 

"  You  think  he  tamed  the  shrew  ?  " 

"  I  do."  Miss  Priscilla  stood  regarding  her 
handsome  visitor,  her  hand  on  her  hip.  "  See 
here,  Mr.  Andreas !  I  have  n't  got  chick  nor  child, 
nor  even  folks,  much  of  any,  that  belong  to  me. 
'T  ain't  wonderful  if  I  think  a  good  deal  about 
Nathalie  and  Miss  Betty  and  you,  is  it  ?  I  've 
thought  a  number  o'  times  o'  the  Way  I  talked  to 
you  under  the  locust-tree  that  day,  and  I've  de- 


284          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

sired  to  speak  of  it.  When  that  engagement  — 
melted,  as  you  might  say,  —  there  did  n't  seem  to  be 
much  break  about  it,  —  so  soon  after  you  'd  gone, 
I  seemed  to  myself  pretty  meddlesome.  What 
earthly  good  did  your  goin'  do ;  and  what  call  did 
I  have  to  put  in  my  oar,  anyway  ?  Have  you  for 
given  me  ?  " 

"  Of  course,  Miss  Pris.     You  did  quite  right." 

"  Ain't  you  clever !  "  returned  Miss  Toothaker 
gratefully.  "  When  you  sent  down  for  the  Arch 
ers,"  she  went  on,  "  I  made  sure  Mrs.  Archer  would 
sort  o'  act  up  —  she  was  so  down  on  you  that  spell 
when  she  tackled  me  in  the  butt'ry  ;  but  instead  o' 
r'arin',  she  was  as  pleased  as  Punch ;  and  1  must 
say,  Mr.  Andreas,  though  it  may  sound  pryin', 
your  sendin'  for  'em  did  look  pointed  to  me ;  it 
did  so." 

"  I  want  to  know,  Miss  Pris  !  " 

"You're  laughin'  at  me.  Well,  laugh  away. 
But  I  ain't  the  fool  I  look  ;  and  I  'm  goin'  to  warn 
you  right  here  and  now  that  madam  has  her  eye 
on  you ! " 

"  Not  this  minute  !  " 

"  Her  mind's  eye,  yes.  You  see,  what  worries 
me  is  that  Miss  Betty  evidently  ain't  the  marryin' 
kind ;  'cause  a  girl  that  could  have  Mr..  Gerard 
and  did  n't "  - 

"  Look  here,  Miss  Pris,  you  will  drive  me  to  do 
Gerard  a  bodily  hurt." 

Miss  Toothaker  waved  the    interruption   aside. 


BESIDE   THE   BOULDER.  285 

—  "  she  evidently  don't  want  to  be  married.  Now, 
I  said  to  myself  when  you  sent  for  the  Archers, 
'  Mr.  Andreas  maybe  don't  mean  anything  by  this 
invitation,  or  maybe  he  does ; '  'cause  of  course  I 
know  that  some  time  when  you  try  to  flirt  your 
wings  as  usual  and  fly  away,  you  're  goin'  to  find 
yourself  held  tight  and  fast,  and  you  '11  realize 
you  're  caught.  Well,  as  I  was  say  in',  I  thought 
maybe  you  was  caught  now,  and  maybe  you 
was  n't ;  but  I  saw  Mrs.  Archer  calc'lated  you 
was.  And,  Mr.  Andreas,  you  listen  to  me."  Miss 
Priscilla  gestured  impressively.  "  If  nothin'  comes 
o'  this  fishin',  and  sailin',  and  walkin',  you  've  begun 
on  now,  you  're  goin'  to  see  one  o'  the  biggest 
backslides  from  reform  that  ever  was  known  in 
this  world.  It  '11  be  a  reg'lar  landslide,  —  Mrs. 
Archer's  will.  I  don't  care  whether  it 's  your 
fault,  or  whether  it 's  Miss  Betty's,  the  result  will 
be  the  same." 

"  Miss  Pris,  you  grieve  and  terrify  me.  Per 
haps  you  will  tell  me  what  your  penetration  dis 
covered  in  Miss  Archer's  manner  on  the  reception 
of  my  mother's  invitation  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will.  I  think  it 's  only  right  I  should. 
I  discovered  a  good  deal  of  reluctance ;  yes,  sir. 
That  girl  will  have  a  good  time  now  she  's  here  ; 
but  I  can  tell  you  Mrs.  Archer  pulled,  and  Mr. 
Gerard  shoved  well,  before  they  could  get  her  out 
of  Edge  water." 

Andreas  looked  genuinely  disconcerted. 


286          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  I  say !  "  he  returned.  "  You  don't  spare  a 
fellow's  vanity." 

"  Well,  a  girl  who  would  n't  have  Mr.  Gerard  "  — 

"Oh" —  Andreas  swung  away  from  the  win 
dow,  and  the  latter  part  of  his  ejaculation  was 
indistinct  as  he  strode  away. 

Miss  Toothaker  started  in  a  listening  attitude, 
and  pursed  up  her  lips  in  horror.  "  I  think  that 
was  a  very  bad  word,"  she  murmured.  After  a 
minute  she  turned  to  the  stove  and  ladled  out  some 
hot  water  into  a  pan  in  the  sink,  and  a  smile  stole 
gradually  over  her  face. 

"  He  's  in  earnest !  "  she  said,  with  a  little  nod. 

She  stooped  and  opened  the  oven  door.  "  As  if 
I  did  n't  know  why  Betty  Archer  hung  back  about 
comin' !  "  Here  she  poked  the  loaves  of  cake 
therein  with  a  broom  straw ;  but  the  operation 
seemed  to  tickle  her  more  than  it  did  them,  for  she 
threw  back  her  head  in  a  noiseless  laugh. 

Several  quiet  days  passed  by,  very  happily  to 
Miss  Priscilla,  who  especially  enjoyed  making 
people  comfortable  whom  she  loved  as  she  did  the 
Dexters. 

"  It 's  interestin'  to  watch  the  changes  that  take 
place  in  young  folks,"  she  said  one  day  to  Mrs. 
Dexter.  "  Nathalie  's  just  as  different  from  what 
she  was  a  year  ago  as  can  be." 

"  In  what  way?  "  asked  the  mother  quickly. 

"  We-ell  —  it 's  hard  tellin'.  She  's  quieter  and 
sweeter  —  oh,  riper,  you  know." 


BESIDE    THE   BOULDER.  287 

"  You  like  the  change,  then  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  like  it.  I  liked  her  when  she  was 
friskier,  too.  How  her  heart  is  all  wrapped  up  in 
her  music  !  It  does  seem  's  if  she  begrudged  goin' 
off  with  Mr.  Andreas  and  Miss  Betty  ;  but  Miss 
Betty  just  won't  take  '  No  '  for  an  answer."  Miss 
Toothaker  nudged  her  companion  and  lowered  her 
voice.  "  There  's  safety  in  numbers,  you  know ;  " 
and  then  she  winked  in  a  knowing  manner  that 
made  Mrs.  Dexter  smile. 

"  I  see  ;  but  it  is  scarcely  pleasant  for  Nathalie 
sometimes,  although  she  says  Mr.  Andreas  is  al 
ways  jolly  and  cordial.  Ah,  here  you  are,  my 
dear,"  as  Nathalie  entered  the  room,  flushed  from 
a  long  walk.  "  We  were  just  speaking  of  you." 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  Priscilla.  "  I  think  it  is  an 
excellent  thing  that  Miss  Betty  is  here  to  keep  you 
away  from  the  piano  so  much.  This  is  vacation." 

Nathalie  smiled,  and  proceeded  to  hang  her  cap 
in  a  curtained  corner  of  the  room.  "  I  have  told 
them  not  to  dare  come  near  me  this  afternoon," 
she  announced.  "  They  are  the  worst  thieves  of 
time  I  ever  knew.  I  can't  study,  I  can't  read,  I 
can't  practice  ;  and  in  short,  I  have  struck." 

"  It  has  been  fine  for  you,"  returned  her  mother. 
"  I  am  not  afraid  of  your  being  too  lazy." 

"  I  'm  so  hungry,  Miss  Priscilla !  Where  's 
dinner  ?  " 

"  'Most  ready.  Corned  cod  and  drawn  butter, 
and  blueberry  pie." 


288  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Oh,  fine  !  Meanwhile  I  '11  get  some  ginger 
ale."  Nathalie  disappeared  into  the  cellar  and 
shortly  returned  with  several  small  bottles,  which 
she  took  to  the  primitive  sideboard  in  the  living- 
room,  and  emptied,  hissing,  into  glasses. 

"  Here,  Miss  Priscilla  !  "  she  called  ;  and  the 
housekeeper,  a  clean  towel  over  her  arm,  came  in 
to  join  her. 

"  Prosit !  "  said  Nathalie,  waving  her  own  brim 
ming  glass  toward  the  others. 

"  Here 's  prosperity  to  Mr.  Andreas,"  suggested 
Mrs.  Dexter. 

"  Agreed  !  "  replied  Nathalie. 

"All  right,"  said  Miss  Toothaker ;  "but  I'm 
goin'  to  drink  to  Mr.  Gerard,  all  alone  down  there 
in  Virginia." 

"It's  a  touching  case  of  loneliness,"  remarked 
Nathalie  ;  and  she  drank  her  ale  with  such  a  relish 
and  ate  her  dinner  subsequently  with  such  cheer 
ful  appetite  and  conversation,  that  Mrs.  Dexter 
thanked  God  in  her  heart  that  good  and  whole 
some  times  had  come  to  them. 

After  dinner  came  the  hour  respected  throughout 
the  cottage  element  at  the  Pulpit  as  sacred  to  naps. 
Nathalie,  perforce  detained  throughout  it  from  her 
piano,  took  a  book  to  a  hammock,  intending  to 
read,  but  succeeded,  as  usual,  only  in  watching  the 
sea  and  its  life. 

She  had  cultivated  her  day-dreams  away  from 
dangerous  localities.  When  her  thoughts  wan- 


BESIDE    THE   BOULDER.  289 

dered  in  forbidden  lines,  she  at  once  began  to 
conjugate  an  irregular  French  verb.  Miss  Dexter 
was  eminently  practical  —  for  a  musician. 

When  sounds  in  the  house  liberated  her  at  last, 
she  went  to  the  piano,  and  worked  there  till  nearly 
teatime.  Then  she  ran  down  to  the  Pulpit  for  a 
while. 

How  she  enjoyed  being  alone  !  "  It  is  a  feeling 
that  is  growing  on  me,"  she  thought,  "  and  I  must 
not  allow  it."  But  she  knew  that  the  desire  to  be 
convincingly  natural  and  cheerful  in  her  mother's 
presence  was  the  secret  of  this  new  preference. 

After  tea  she  went  again  to  the  piano,  and  played 
until  the  sun  was  ready  to  fall  behind  the  distant 
blue  mountains. 

"  Come  out,  dear.  Come  out  for  this  sight," 
said  her  mother  at  the  window.  "  How  Betty  must 
be  enjoying  it !  " 

The  full  moon  had  just  risen,  and  the  setting 
sun's  light  suffused  the  great  disk  with  rose  color. 

Nathalie  stood,  her  arm  around  her  mother,  and 
watched  it  shining  above  water  that  shaded  from 
purple  to  bronze. 

"  How  beautiful  the  world  is !  "  she  said. 

The  two  stood  there  in  silence,  looking  out  on 
the  scene  for  minutes,  until  the  rose  tints  had  all 
faded. 

At  last  Mrs.  Dexter  went  into  the  house  to  write 
a  letter,  and  Nathalie  was  again  alone. 

There  were  no  trees  here  to  cast  swaying  shad- 


290         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

ows  under  the  full  moon.  Only  the  great  boulder 
flung  a  long,  dark  curtain  upon  the  grass.  Down 
among  the  ledges  the  Pulpit  rose  black  against  the 
corrugated  pathway  of  bright  silver  that  led  straight 
to  the  horizon.  Nathalie  looked  toward  it  hesitat 
ingly,  but  her  feet  stepping  down  from  the  piazza, 
carried  her  slowly  toward  the  boulder. 

The  air  was  soft  with  the  mildness  which,  after 
sunset,  so  strangely  succeeds  to  the  keen  winds  of 
day  in  this  locality.  As  Nathalie  neared  the  rock 
she  heard  Betty's  laugh,  and  then  Andreas's  voice. 
They  were  probably  coming  for  her.  With  an 
involuntary  quick  movement  she  sprang  into  the 
shadow  of  the  boulder,  and  sank  down  against  the 
gray  moss. 

She  saw  her  friends  go  up  to  the  cottage  door, 
and,  after  a  minute's  talk,  turn  away,  and  move 
through  the  rough  pasture  toward  the  sea. 

"  Mother  has  probably  suggested  that  I  am  down 
at  the  Pulpit,"  she  thought,  and  she  remained  in 
her  dusky  nook  until  their  figures  had  disappeared. 
"  Betty  may  want  me,  but  I  am  certain  that  Mr. 
Andreas  will  be  consolable  in  their  fruitless 
search." 

She  smiled  in  satisfaction  at  her  escape,  and  rose 
from  her  hiding-place.  There  was  a  niche  in  the 
boulder  large  enough  for  a  seat,  and  she  moved 
around  the  end  of  the  rock  to  seek  it.  Here  she 
would  sit  and  revel  in  the  vast  outlook,  and  —  if 
necessary,  conjugate  a  French  verb ! 


BESIDE    THE   BOULDER.  291 

She  had  her  hand  upon  the  lichens  ready  for  a 
spring  into  the  high  niche,  when  her  eyes  strayed 
from  habit  toward  the  close-lying  stretch  of  turf 
which  had  so  often  held  her  audience  of  one. 

A  flood  of  moonlight  poured  upon  the  spot.  The 
girl's  grasp  tightened  upon  the  mosses,  and  her 
other  hand  sought  the  rock  for  support.  Had  her 
heart  held  one  image  until  it  evoked  visions  ?  She 
was  so  startled  that  faintness  almost  overpowered 
her ;  for  there  in  the  flood  of  moonlight  lay,  or 
seemed  to  lie,  Roger  Gerard,  at  full  length  at  her 
feet. 

His  outing-cap  was  off,  his  head  supported  on 
his  arm,  and  he  was  sound  asleep. 

Nathalie,  her  heart  beating  heavily,  leaned 
against  the  rock  and  gazed  at  him.  It  was  he  — 
it  was  really  he ;  and  only  a  minute  ago  she  had 
been  fearing  even  to  let  her  thoughts  dwell  on  him 
in  this  entrancing  night. 

She  summoned  her  strength  and  her  wits.  What 
did  his  presence  mean  ?  He  had  missed  Betty  too 
much  after  all  ?  He  had  followed  her  ? 

No,  it  was  scarcely  possible. 

Then,  if  that  were  not  possible,  what  had  he 
come  for? 

Oh,  the  divine  sweetness  that  poured  into  Na 
thalie's  heart  and  brain  as  she  gazed  down  into 
the  unconscious,  still  face.  Had  he  cared  for  her 
after  all  —  her,  Nathalie  Dexter  ?  Had  he  even  at 
Edgewater  thought  of  her?  Had  that  been  the 


292          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

reason  why  the  loss  of  Betty  had  been  cheerfully 
sustained  ? 

He  had  secured  a  leave.  He  had  come  up  into  this 
out-of-the-way  corner  of  the  universe  for  a  purpose, 
and,  leaving  his  friends,  had  sought  the  spot  which 
he  had  oftentimes  declared  held  an  enchantment 
for  him. 

Nathalie  remembered  how  long  she  had  played 
after  tea.  He  had  probably  been  listening  when 
sleep  overtook  him. 

Was  this  a  fool's  paradise  which  was  enveloping 
her  closer  and  closer  as  she  realized  the  tran 
scendent  fact  that  he  was  really  here  in  flesh  and 
blood,  and  that  after  a  while  he  would  waken  and 
speak  to  her  ?  Why  should  she  expect  anything  ? 
Why  should  she  ?  Nothing  was  proved ;  nothing. 

Her  heart  beat  fast  as  she  strove  with  herself, 
exulting,  yet  questioning,  and  her  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  his  face  with  an  attraction  under  which  no 
man  could  have  remained  unconscious.  The  sleeper 
stirred.  The  girl  felt  a  sudden  wild  desire  to  fly, 
but  she  could  not  move. 

Gerard  slowly  withdrew  his  arm  from  beneath 
his  head,  and  his  eyelids  fluttered  and  lifted.  He 
saw  at  his  feet  Nathalie's  slight,  erect  form,  cling 
ing  against  the  boulder  as  closely  as  its  own  mosses. 

He  brushed  his  hand  across  his  eyes,  but  the 
white-clothed  vision  did  not  vanish.  With  quick 
bewilderment  he  sat  up,  gazing,  then  sprang  to  his 
feet,  dumb. 


BESIDE   THE   BOULDER.  293 

"  You  can  hardly  believe  it  is  I,"  she  said  in  a 
low  tone.  "  I  could  hardly  believe  it  was  you." 

He  took  a  step  toward  her.  "  I  was  dreaming, 
—  dreaming  that  you  were  looking  at  me  ;  so  it 
seemed  all  a  dream.  I  have  been  trying  to  get  to 
you  ever  since  you  left  Edge  water.  I  have  trav 
eled  fast.  The  boats  are  crowded.  I  had  no  sleep 
last  night,  so  you  forgive  me  ?  I  came  right  from 
the  boat  —  here  !  " 

He  was  off  his  guard.  The  spontaneous  acts 
and  words  of  dreamland  had  not  had  time  to  be 
supplanted  by  the  conventions  of  waking  hours. 

His  manner  and  tone  were  enough.  Nathalie's 
doubts  vanished.  An  ineffable  sweetness  crept 
about  her  lips,  and  her  bright  head  leaned  slowly 
against  the  rock,  as  if  swayed  back  beneath  the 
passionate  gaze  bent  upon  her.  The  moment  of 
tender  ecstasy  would  be  with  her  forever. 

She  could  see  in  his  face,  in  his  attitude,  that 
he  doubted  the  outcome  of  his  quest ;  and  she  did 
not  stop  to  congratulate  herself  upon  this ;  instead, 
the  heavenly  gladness  that  she  could  give  to  him 
flooded  her  soul. 

"Then  Mr.  Andreas  does  not  know  you  have 
come  yet  ?  "  she  asked  after  a  period  during  which 
he  seemed  satisfied  only  to  look  at  her. 

"  No  ;  I  shall  stay  at  the  hotel.  I  did  not  even 
let  them  know  I  was  coming.  Two  guests  are 
enough  for  that  house." 

"It  is  very  uncomfortable  at  the  hotel,"  said 


294  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

Nathalie,  in  the  same  dreamy  and  unconventional 
tone  they  were  both  unconsciously  using. 

Betty's  shrewd  suggestions  had  been  present  in 
Gerard's  mind  every  hour  since  that  long-ago  day 
under  the  live-oaks  when  she  had  informed  him  of 
Nathalie's  sudden  departure.  Spoken  for  his  com 
fort  Gerard  knew  they  had  been,  yet  Betty  seemed 
sincerely  to  believe  them.  Now  they  echoed  in  his 
heart  again  with  Nathalie  before  him,  fair  enough 
in  the  moonlight  to  be  the  embodiment  of  the 
thrilling  harmonies  she  interpreted  so  well. 

She  had  not  offered  him  her  hand.  Her  manner 
was  certainly  out  of  the  ordinary,  but  — 

"  I  shall  not  care  for  physical  discomforts,  since 
I  have  attained  getting  here,"  he  answered.  "  Es 
pecially,"  he  added  after  a  pause,  "  if  you  can  tell 
me  that  you  are  glad  I  came." 

She  hesitated  only  an  instant.  "I  am  glad," 
she  said. 

Her  hands  were  clasped  behind  her  as  she  looked 
up  at  him.  Oh,  the  glory  of  the  summer  night ! 

He  came  a  step  nearer  still,  and  her  heart  flut 
tered  for  joy  and  vague  timidity  under  his  eyes. 

"If  I  knew  why  you  left  Edgewater  —  left 
without  speaking  to  me  or  sending  me  a  line  — 
if  I  knew  that !  " 

He  waited ;  but  the  question  was  too  difficult. 
She  did  not  answer. 

"  If  I  only  knew  whether  the  reason  concerned 
me  ?  "  he  pursued  gently. 


BESIDE    THE   BOULDER.  295 

"But  why  do  you  wish  to  know?"  she  asked 
breathlessly. 

"  Because  I  love  you  so,"  he  answered,  his  re 
pressed  heart  thrilling  through  the  words. 

Her  look  made  him  draw  her,  yielding,  from^the 
rough  rock,  hardly  believing  in  his  own  happiness. 

"That  was  why,"  she  answered,  close  to  his 
breast.  "  It  was  because  I  loved  you  so." 

An  hour  later,  Miss  Toothaker  was  sitting  alone 
in  the  living-room  of  the  cottage,  knitting,  when 
Nathalie  entered. 

"  Where  is  mother  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Upstairs  in  her  room.  What 's  the  matter  ? 
Why,  see  here,  Nathalie  Dexter,  let  me  look  at 
you." 

The  girl  obediently  faced  about  again  for  the 
housekeeper's  inspection,  and  well  might  Miss 
Priscilla  wish  to  catch  a  gleam  of  that  radiance 
which  shines  on  earth  but  once  in  a  lifetime. 

"  I  did  n't  know  as  you  was  so  good-lookin' ! 
But  you  're  kind  o'  queer,  too,  —  as  if  you  'd  been 
seein'  things." 

Nathalie's  lips  smiled  slightly  with  their  secret 

j°y- 

"  Mr.  Gerard  is  here." 
"  He  is !     Why  did  n't  he  come  in  ?  " 
"  He  will  be  back  soon.     He  has  gone  down  to 
the  hotel  first." 

"  He  ain't  stoppin'  at  that  one-horse  tavern  ?     I 


296         MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

s'pose  the  Andreas's  cottage  is  full.  Dear  me, 
now !  Don't  you  think  your  ma  might  ask  him 
here  ?  I  'd  just  as  soon  have  him  as  not." 

"  You  do  like  him,  don't  you  ? "  said  the  girl, 
such  a  tenderness  welling  up  in  her  voice  that  Miss 
Toothaker  stared. 

Nathalie  returned  her  gaze  for  an  instant,  then 
turned  quickly  and  ran  upstairs. 

Miss  Priscilla's  knitting  was  dropped,  and  she 
continued  to  stare  after  the  girl,  open-mouthed. 
Her  mental  processes  were  laboring.  Finally  she 
picked  up  her  work  mechanically  and  slowly 
scratched  her  head  with  a  knitting-needle,  while 
a  smile  of  surprise  and  gratification  stretched  one 
side  of  her  mouth. 

"And  that  was  probably  goin'  on  the  whole 
livin'  time,"  she  murmured.  "  I  never  once  thought 
of  it,  not  once ;  but,  land  o'  liberty,  who  could  run 
a  house  and  keep  track  of  all  such  doin's  ?  " 

She  suddenly  began  knitting  with  excitement. 
"  If  it 's  the  way  I  think  it  is,  won't  I  cook  'em  a 
good  dinner  to-morrow !  To  think  Nathalie  's  the 
one  that 's  got  those  eyes,  after  all !  Well,  well !  " 
Her  work  dropped  again  as  she  mused.  At  last 
she  picked  it  up,  lifting  her  shoulders  and  laugh 
ing  to  herself.  "  I  don't  know  who  made  that 
match  if  I  did  n't !  " 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

ON    THE   ISLAND. 

BETTY  ARCHER,  who  had  known  when  she  left 
Edgewater  that  Roger  was  trying  to  obtain  a  leave 
which  circumstances  rendered  it  difficult  to  obtain, 
was  the  only  one  of  the  little  group  not  utterly  sur 
prised  at  the  sudden  advent  of  the  lieutenant  at 
the  Pulpit,  and  his  still  more  unexpected  entrance 
into  the  life  of  the  Dexter  household. 

"  You  've  been  so  sly  about  it,"  complained  An 
dreas  to  Nathalie,  as  he  beamed  upon  her  and 
squeezed  her  hand  the  next  day.  "  Never  even 
told  me  that  Roger  was  coming,  or  asked  me 
whether  or  no  you  had  better  say  '  Yes.'  ' 

And  Nathalie,  smiling,  silently  turned  to  Betty, 
whose  perfect  and  comprehending  sympathy  would 
be  one  of  the  chief  joys  of  her  life  henceforward. 

"  I  've  wanted  a  sister  so  much,"  the  Southern 
girl  had  said,  "  and  now  I  shall  have  one !  " 

Even  Mrs.  Archer,  who  ran  over  for  a  minute 
to  offer  congratulations,  was  as  effusively  gracious 
as  if  she  had  made  the  match.  What  wonder  ? 
Entering  the  Andreas  home  with  every  faculty  of 
her  being  concentrated  on  the  intention  to  concili 
ate  Russell  and  to  propitiate  Mrs.  Andreas,  she 


298  MISS   ARCHER  ARCHER. 

had  been  treated  like  an  honored  guest,  and  had 
communed  to  her  heart's  content  on  her  favorite 
subject,  for  her  hostess  quite  agreed  with  her  as  to 
its  interest. 

Her  closest  scrutiny  had  so  far  failed  to  discover 
any  mutual  understanding  between  her  step 
daughter  and  the  man  who  acknowledged  himself 
the  girl's  lover.  A  hundred  times  a  day  she  was 
tempted  to  give  a  hint  that  might  draw  out  his  in 
valid  mother,  and  as  many  times  she  checked  her 
self;  for  Russell's  suggestion — which  was  much 
more  a  command  —  that  she  should  efface  herself, 
still  rang  in  her  ears  each  time  she  encountered  his 
urbane  but  masterful  glance. 

It  was  quite  true.  There  was  no  understanding 
between  Andreas  and  Miss  Archer  beyond  that  of 
good  comradeship. 

"  The  mischief  of  it  is,  I  don't  want  to  lose  her. 
I  can't  lose  her,"  Russell  said  to  the  happy  lieuten 
ant,  whom  he  dragged  from  the  Dexter  cottage  to 
take  a  ramble  with  him  around  the  rocky  shore. 
He  looked  into  Gerard's  face  as  the  latter  strode 
along  beside  him,  his  hands  in  the  pockets  of  his 
coat. 

"  Heavens !  "  he  ejaculated.  "  I  wonder  if  I  '11 
ever  look  the  way  you  do  :  as  if  you  were  sure  of 
everything  here  and  hereafter." 

"  I  hope  so,"  answered  Roger. 

"  But  how  did  you  dare  act  so  promptly  ?  "  pur 
sued  Andreas  enviously.  "  Is  it  all  military  disci- 


ON   THE   ISLAND.  299 

pline  ?  The  last  time  I  saw  you,  you  thought 
doubtful  things  just  as  uncertain  as  I  do." 

Gerard  smiled  at  a  tall,  pointed  fir-tree. 

"  It  seemed  taken  out  of  my  hands." 

"  By  George  !  "  returned  Andreas  ruefully,  "  I 
wish  Miss  Archer  Archer  would  take  it  out  of  my 
hands." 

"  You  don't  understand  me.  The  only  advice  I 
can  give  you  is  to  sleep  and  dream,  and  wake  and 
go  on  dreaming." 

"  Listen  to  the  sphinx  !  I  can  sleep  and  dream 
all  right,  but  when  I  wake,  you  bet  I  don't  go  on 
dreaming." 

"  Why  don't  you  ask  her  ?  "  inquired  Gerard 
simply.  "  What  are  you  afraid  of  ?  " 

"  I  'm  afraid  of  her,  man,"  returned  Russell, 
almost  shouting  in  his  desperation.  "  She  scares 
me  stiff.  Why  can't  she  be  prettily  conscious,  and 
blush  and  glance  away,  and  do  all  those  nice  at 
tractive  things  that  other  girls  do  ?  Instead,  she 
looks  square  at  me  with  those  blue  eyes  of  hers, 
and  seems  to  be  considering  me  as  if  I  were  some 
thing  away  outside  of  her.  If  she  has  the  head 
ache,  I  'm  afraid  I  've  offended  her.  If  she  is 
thoughtful,  I  am  afraid  she  is  bored.  The  only 
way  I  can  get  her  sweet  face  to  soften  is  to  give 
her  a  song  and  dance  about  an  apocryphal  girl  up 
country  whom  she  believes  I  'm  in  love  with." 

Gerard  laughed  aloud.  "  That  is  certainly  an 
original  way  of  wooing." 


300          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Oh,  it 's  all  right  for  you  to  stand  high  and 
dry  on  the  shore,  and  ridicule  a  man  who 's  swim 
ming  for  life.  She  grew  to  believe  in  that  girl  by 
misunderstanding  something  I  said,  and  I  get  so 
hungry  sometimes  that  I  '11  bid  for  a  kind  look 
from  her  any  way  I  can." 

The  lieutenant  looked  at  his  friend's  splendid 
proportions,  and  gloomy,  clear-cut  face,  with  amuse 
ment,  which  he  contrived  this  time  to  keep  to 
himself. 

"  If  you  expect  Betty  to  show  any  preference  for 
another  woman's  lover,  you  misunderstand  the  sort 
of  girl  you  are  dealing  with,"  he  said  quietly. 

"  There  is  something  in  that,"  admitted  An 
dreas. 

Gerard  picked  up  a  tempting  stone,  and  paused 
to  send  it  skimming  through  the  waves. 

"  There  's  lots  in  it  —  to  an  Archer,"  he  re 
turned. 

Betty  had  more  than  one  admirer  at  the  Pulpit, 
and  one  of  the  stanchest  was  Cap'n  Levi,  upon 
whom  her  gentle  and  refined  reposefulness  had 
made  a  deep  impression. 

On  her  way  home  from  Nathalie's  on  that  radi 
ant  morning,  when  it  would  have  been  hard  for  a 
stranger  to  decide  which  of  the  four  women  talk 
ing  in  the  Dexter  cottage  looked  happiest,  Miss 
Archer  met  the  captain,  who  was  muttering  to 
himself  as  he  came  down  the  road.  He  stopped 
before  the  girl  to  express  his  grievance. 


ON   THE   ISLAND.  301 

"  Russell  Andr'as  has  been  at  me  to  try  to  git 
iny  bo't,"  he  grumbled.  "  He  knows  I  won't  lend 
my  bo't.  Jest  as  soon  let  my  woman  go  as  my 
bo't." 

"  I  suppose  the  only  safe  way  is  never  to  lend 
it,"  returned  the  girl  kindly. 

"  Yis,  't  is.  Russell  knows  this  coast 's  well 's  I 
do  ;  but  I  ain't  goin'  to  break  over  m'  rule.  Ef 
he  wants  to  sail  in  my  bo't  and  have  me  go  'long 
an'  sail  it,  I  'm  willin'.  He  knows  that." 

"  Well,  don't  worry,  Cap'n  Levi.  I  '11  talk  to 
him.  I  think  a  sail  in  yo'  boat  with  you  would  be 
right  jolly." 

"  Well,  you  jist  gi'  me  a  half-hour's  notice  any 
time,  and  I  '11  be  thar,"  returned  the  old  man,  his 
seamed  face  brightening. 

"  Have  you  heard  the  news,  Cap'n  Levi  ?  " 

"  No,  I  hain't  heard  no  news.  I  seen  that  young 
soldier  feller  't  was  here  last  year  'round  this 
mornin'." 

"  Yes,  he  has  come,  and  he  and  Miss  Dexter  are 
engaged  to  be  married." 

"  Ye  don't  say  so  !  "  The  captain  looked  much 
interested.  "  Wall,"  he  chuckled,  "  no  extry 
charge  fer  sweethearts  in  my  bo't.  Let  'em  come, 
ef  they  want  to." 

"  Very  well.  This  is  my  party,  is  n't  it,  Cap'n 
Levi?" 

"  Sartin  it  is.  Sartin,"  returned  the  old  man 
gallantly. 


302          MI88  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  Expect  us  at  two  o'clock,  then.  I  '11  be  there, 
if  I  have  to  come  alone !  " 

"  I  'd  be  jest  as  well  pleased  ef  ye  was  to  come 
alone,"  returned  Cap'n  Levi ;  and  delighted  with 
his  own  repartee,  he  went,  chuckling,  along  toward 
the  store. 

But  Miss  Archer  did  not  appear  at  the  dock 
alone.  She  had  with  her  Nathalie,  the  lieuten 
ant,  and  Andreas,  who  had  swallowed  his  displeas 
ure  with  Cap'n  Levi  at  her  command,  and  now 
submitted  to  the  unaccustomed  role  of  passenger 
in  a  sailboat. 

"  The  old  man  's  the  fifth  wheel  to  the  coach, 
after  all,"  remarked  the  captain  when  he  had  his 
load  on  board,  and  had  begun  to  tack  slowly  out 
of  the  little  cove  which  served  Pulpit  Point  as  a 
harbor.  "  Miss  Dexter  and  Cap'n  there,  I  wish 
ye  much  joy.  There  's  ben  lots  o'  sparkin'  he-ar. 
Seems  's  if  the  Pulpit  come  pretty  near  to  heaven 
when  it  comes  to  the  jawb  o'  makin'  matches." 
The  speaker  turned  his  solitary  tooth  toward  the 
young  couple,  who  were  dutifully  trimming  the 
boat  by  sitting  on  opposite  sides  of  it. 

"  Say  !  "  exclaimed  Andreas.  "  Would  n't  it  be 
great  to  have  a  wedding  at  the  Pulpit,  —  I  mean, 
have  the  minister  actually  stand  in  the  Pulpit ! 
You  ought  to  be  willing,  Miss  Dexter,  to  wear  a 
waterproof  instead  of  the  usual  mosquito-netting 
business  for  the  sake  of  the  romance  of  the  thing, 
and  be  married  in  the  very  spot  where  you  and  Ge 
rard  first  met ! ' 


ON   THE   ISLAND.  303 

Russell  passed  his  hand  over  his  mouth,  and  his 
eyes  shone  wickedly.  "  We  would  scrape  all  the 
seaweed  off  one  rock  for  Roger  to  stand  on.  It 
would  n't  do  to  have  any  slips  on  that  occasion. 
I  suppose  liberty  of  speech  has  returned,  Roger 
-eh?" 

"  To  a  certain  extent,"  returned  Gerard,  smiling 
at  Nathalie.  "I  think,  however,  you  should  be 
the  one  to  have  the  honor  of  being  married  among 
the  barnacles,  since  it  was  your  own  brilliant  idea." 

"  Won't  Nathalie's  wedding  be  pretty ! "  said 
Betty  joyously.  "  I  love  a  military  wedding.  It 
is  one  of  the  nicest  things  about  marrying  an  army 
officer.  I'm  to  be  maid  of  honor,  Nathalie  has 
promised.  Now  mind  you  choose  the  finest  lieu 
tenant  in  the  service  fo'  yo'  best  man,  Roger.  You 
must  consider  ma  future." 

"  What  are  you  thinking  of,  child  ?  There  sits 
my  best  man."  Gerard  indicated  Russell. 

"  Oh !  "  ejaculated  Miss  Archer  blankly.  And 
then  Andreas  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  how  the 
too  imperturbable  girl  looked,  colored  by  as  violent 
a  blush  as  he  had  ever  beheld  on  maiden's  face. 

"  Cap'n  Levi  promised  to  show  me  about  sail 
ing,"  she  said,  rising  hurriedly ;  and  the  boat  at 
that  moment  meeting  the  first  big  wave  outside  the 
cove,  she  was  promptly  precipitated  straight  into 
Russell  Andreas's  arms. 

"  Do  excuse  me !  "  she  exclaimed ;  and  he,  his 
usual  ready  nonsense  all  flown,  replied  meekly :  — 


304          MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"Certainly." 

They  sailed  out  to  one  of  the  islands  that  they 
knew  well,  and  Cap'n  Levi  mooring  his  boat  in  a 
safe  place,  they  all  landed. 

"  I  am  going  to  hunt  for  fir  balsam,"  said  Na 
thalie,  who  had  brought  scissors  and  a  basket  for 
the  purpose. 

"  Let  me  go  with  you !  "  exclaimed  Andreas 
effusively.  "  I  'd  just  as  lief  go  as  not." 

The  lovers  disappeared,  laughing,  into  the  woods, 
and  Cap'n  Levi,  finding  a  sheltered  group  of  trees, 
sat  down  among  them  on  a  grassy  bank. 

"  Ye  kin  all  go,  ef  ye  don't  stay  too  long,"  he 
said.  "  I  'm  goin'  to  kind  o'  keep  an  eye  on  the 
bo't.  Never  did  keer  fer  walkin'  when  sittin'  's  jest 
as  cheap." 

Miss  Archer  promptly  sat  down  on  the  grass 
near  him.  "  I  feel  like  staying  here  too,"  she  said 
with  decision. 

Russell  deliberately  followed  her  example,  and 
disposed  himself  on  the  other  side  of  the  captain. 
"  It  seems  to  be  Hobson's  choice  for  me,  then," 
he  remarked.  "  I  never  was  much  on  wandering 
about  alone,  and  soliloquizing,  and  carving  names 
on  the  trunks  of  trees." 

"  I  s'pose  them  two  folks,"  the  captain  gestured 
backward  with  his  head,  "  don't  keer  much  whether 
they  're  walkin'  or  settin',  jest  so 's  thar  ain't  any 
body  else  around." 

"  Well,"  admitted  Andreas,  "  I  dare  say  they  're 
not  lonely." 


ON    THE   ISLAND.  305 

"  That  young  man  's  found  his  commandin'  offi 
cer  sure,"  went  on  the  captain.  "  I  could  tell  him 
a  thing  or  two."  He  nodded  knowingly.  "  She 
looks  dretful  soft  and  biddable,  —  but  just  let  him 
wait."  The  speaker  nodded  again,  so  portentously 
that  Betty  laughed  merrily. 

Cap'n  Levi  showed  his  tooth  for  sympathy. 
"  That  gal  knows  jest  what  she  wants  and  when 
she  wants  it ;  and  so  I  can  tell  that  soldier  boy 
over  there." 

"  Well,"  said  Miss  Archer,  "  Mr.  Gerard  wishes 
to  find  out  what  she  wants,  and  to  give  it  to  her." 

"  Jest 's  long  's  he  doos,  things  '11  go  reel  peace 
ful,"  returned  the  captain. 

"  And  when  it  comes  to  war,  you  must  remember 
that  Mr.  Gerard  is  right  in  his  element,"  suggested 
Russell. 

Cap'n  Levi  began  comfortably  mumbling  a 
blade  of  grass.  He  was  having  a  very  good  time. 
The  trees  kept  the  wind  off,  the  sun  was  pleasant, 
and  since  these  young  people  preferred  his  society 
to  rambling  about  the  island,  he  was  bound  to  do 
his  best  to  entertain  them. 

"When's  your  turn  comin',  Russell?"  he  in 
quired.  "  Seems  to  me  you  hang  fire  consid'able." 

"  It  is  n't  my  fault,  Cap'n." 

"  Whose,  then  ?     Your  sweetheart's  ?  " 

"Yes."  Andreas  sighed.  "  She 's  sweet  enough, 
but  she  is  n't  mine." 

"  Sho ! "    said    the    old    man    contemptuously. 


306  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  Refused  ye  once,  maybe.  Some  folks  git  the 
mitten  so  easy  !  " 

No  woman  ever  had  a  larger  bump  of  curiosity 
than  had  developed  on  this  old  fisherman's  cranium 
in  his  narrow,  monotonous  life.  He  gazed  now  at 
Andreas,  who  was  leaning  on  his  elbow,  and  star 
ing  out  to  sea. 

"  Where  'd  ye  say  she  lived  ?  " 

"  She  lives  in  Virginia." 

"  You  never  told  me  that,"  said  Miss  Archer. 

"  You  never  asked  me.  You  have  n't  the  Yankee 
enterprise." 

"  Down  there  now  —  eh  ?  "  hazarded  the  captain. 

"  No,  she  is  in  Maine  now."  Russell  smiled 
oddly  toward  Betty.  "  Miss  Archer,  this  seems  to 
be  a  game  of  twenty  questions.  Won't  you  take  a 
hand?" 

"  I  think  I  will,"  said  Betty  gravely.  "  You 
make  me  feel  as  if  I  were  detaining  you.  You 
have  not  given  her  up.  If  she  is  in  Maine  now, 
why  are  you  not  with  her  ?  " 

"  I  am." 

Andreas  spoke  so  quietly,  his  eyes  resting  on 
hers,  that  it  took  Betty  moments  to  believe  she  had 
heard  aright ;  then  the  color  mounted  to  her  face, 
and  slowly  receded. 

Her  gaze  did  not  drop  from  his,  though  she 
turned  so  pale,  and  the  old  captain  sat  there  be 
tween  them,  his  weather-beaten,  nut-cracker  face 
looking  meditatively  out  to  sea. 


ON   THE   ISLAND.  307 

"You  told  me  she  loved  some  one  else,"  said 
the  girl ;  and  Cap'n  Levi  smiled  shrewdly. 

"I  '11  find  out  more  a-listenin'  than  I  will 
a-talkin',"  he  thought.  "  Women  's  jest  brimful 
o'  curiosity.  'T  ain't  their  fault." 

"  I  firmly  believed  so  that  afternoon  when  I  told 
you." 

"  But  in  the  evening,  when  I  explained  "  — 

"  I  did  not  credit  all  you  said.  I  thought  you 
capable  of  any  sacrifice.  Yes,  I  believed  that 
sweet  girl  was  crushing  her  own  heart." 

"  But  at  the  dance  —  the  evening  at  the  Hy- 
geia  "  — 

"  Yes,  I  believed  you  at  last,  then,  and  I  began 
to  dream  dreams." 

"  Ye  can't  put  no  faith  in  dreams,"  remarked 
Cap'n  Levi,  briefly. 

Miss  Archer's  breath  was  coming  faster,  for 
Andreas's  eyes  were  eloquent,  and  his  fine  face  was 
tense  with  feeling. 

With  an  involuntary  movement  she  suddenly 
came  closer  to  Cap'n  Levi,  and  took  a  fold  of  his 
faded  sleeve  between  her  fingers. 

The  old  man,  gratified  at  her  friendliness,  turned 
toward  her. 

"  He  's  baound  to  be  close-mouthed,  ain't  he  ?  Ye 
hain't  found  out  much,  I  '11  bet.  Russell  Andr'as 
allers  could  talk  the  most,  and  say  the  least,  of  any 
feller  that  ever  come  to  the  Pulpit." 

Betty  laughed  a  little,  —  a  laugh  that  was  near 


308  MISS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

to  tears,  —  and  caught  her  lower  lip  with  her 
teeth. 

"  Wonder  'f  them  folks  back  in  the  woods  thar 
hev  got  any  idee  o'  time  ?"  remarked  Cap'n  Levi. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  go  after  them,  Miss 
Archer  and  I,"  returned  Andreas  quickly. 

"  Yes,  that 's  right,  you  go,"  said  Betty,  whose 
expression  made  Russell  think  of  some  delicate 
wild  creature,  who  sees  the  hunter  near.  Their 
positions  were  reversed :  she  was  the  one  who  was 
frightened  now. 

"  I  said  '  we,'  "  he  answered. 

"  But  I  think  I  '11  stay  with  Cap'n  Levi." 

The  captain,  mumbling  his  grass-blade,  turned 
to  Russell,  smiling  triumphantly. 

"Holler,  can't  ye?" 

"  I  don't  want  to  startle  them.  I  wish  you 
would  persuade  Miss  Archer  to  come  with  me." 

"  Seems  skeered  o'  the  woods,  don't  he  ?  "  re 
marked  the  captain  to  Betty.  Then,  happening  to 
catch  sight  of  a  water-lined  rock  below,  he  started. 
"Look  he-ar.  I  didn't  know  as  time  was  flyin' 
so.  I  knew  the  tide  wuz  a-runnin'  out  when  we 
come  in.  We  'd  better  git  aboard.  She  draws  a 
good  deal  o'  water  for  her  size.  Git  the  folks, 
Russell,  an'  I  '11  go  down  t'  the  bo't  an'  jest  keep 
watch  of  her." 

Miss  Archer  had  charmed  the  old  man  without 
doubt,  but  when  it  came  to  a  question  of  his  be 
loved  boat,  no  rival  had  a  chance. 


ON   THE   ISLAND.  309 

He  moved  now  as  swiftly  as  he  was  able,  and 
hurrying  away  down  to  the  shore,  disappeared 
behind  its  gray  rocks. 

The  two  he  had  left  also  rose.  All  was  still  but 
for  the  wind  in  the  trees  and  the  solemn  murmur 
of  the  sea. 

Miss  Archer  gave  one  look  into  Russell's  speak 
ing  face,  and  then  her  eyes  fell,  and  involunta 
rily  she  pressed  both  her  hands  to  her  fluttering 
heart. 

He  came  near,  but  he  did  not  touch  her.  Her 
pure,  proud  maidenhood  was  an  appeal. 

"You  know  it  all  now,  Betty,"  he  said  plead 
ingly.  "  Have  I  not  been  patient  ?  You  said 
yourself  that  in  time  she  would  care  for  me." 

A  faint  little  smile  grew  about  the  girl's  lips  as 
she  still  studied  the  turf. 

"  Ever  since  that  evening  at  the  Hygeia,"  she 
began  slowly,  "  I  have  prayed  to  God  every  night 
that  I  might  not  love  Mr.  Andreas." 

"  Dear  heart !  " 

She  lifted  the  blue  eyes  he  loved,  and  her  sweet 
lips  trembled  as  she  added  still  more  slowly :  — 

"  But  ma  prayers  were  not  answered." 

It  might  have  been  seconds,  —  minutes,  —  hours, 
that  they  had  stood  in  that  little  sheltered  copse, 
her  heart  beating  upon  his,  when  Cap'n  Levi's  stri 
dent  shout  from  the  shore  pierced  the  ^Eolian 
music  of  the  pines. 


310          MfSS  ARCHER  ARCHER. 

"  I  tell  ye  I'm  a-goin'  !  " 

Nathalie  Dexter's  voice  replied :  — 

"  But  you  must  wait  a  minute.  We  have  n't 
found  them  yet." 

Betty  started.     "  They  want  us." 

"  Never  mind,"  murmured  Andreas.  "  Let  us 
stay  here  forever."  , 

"  But  I  should  n't  like  barnacles  three  times  a 
day.  Are  —  are  you  going  to  tell  them  ?  " 

"Tell  them?  I  shall  tell  the  very  stones!" 
exclaimed  Andreas ;  and  so  even  at  the  moment 
when  the  lieutenant  was  waking  the  echoes  in  an 
endeavor  to  reach  his  friend,  these  two  came  out  of 
the  copse  near  by,  hand  in  hand,  the  same  light 
on  their  faces  that  shone  upon  Adam  and  Eve  in 
the  garden. 

Instantly  the  other  pair  came  to  meet  them,  with 
glad  comprehension.  Gerard  wrung  the  hand  of 
his  friend  in  silence,  while  his  eyes  gave  him  a 
solemn  charge.  Then  he  took  Betty  in  his  arms 
tenderly,  and  kissed  her  cheek. 

Cap'n  Levi's  voice  came  desperately  up  the  bank. 

"  She  's  a-scrapin',  I  tell  ye." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  called  Andreas  ;  and  the  radiant 
quartette  hurried  forward  and  down  to  the  shore. 

"  Did  n't  reelize  the  tide  wuz  so  low,"  said  the 
captain.  "  You  're  a  smart  feller,  Russell,"  he 
added,  with  biting  sarcasm.  "  I  '11  send  you  after 
folks  agin  some  time  !  " 

"  It  was  Miss  Archer  Archer's  fault,  Cap'n." 


ON  THE   ISLAND.  311 

"  Blamin'  it  on  the  woman,  hey  ?  That 's  an  old 
dodge !  " 

Andreas  took  Betty's  hand  to  help  her  to  the 
high  gunwale  of  the  rocking  boat,  but  paused  in 
that  attitude. 

"  Beg  pardon,  Cap'n ;  I  called  her  wrong,"  he 
continued.  "I  meant  to  say,  the  future  Mrs. 
Russell  Forbes  Andreas." 

"Hey?" 

"  It  's  a  fact,  Cap'n,  it 's  a  fact.  You  can't 
believe  it,  and  I  sympathize  with  you  perfectly. 
Neither  can  I." 

There  was  an  ominous  grating  of  pebbles  under 
the  keel  of  his  precious  boat,  but  Cap'n  Levi  was 
actually  deaf  to  it,  while  Miss  Archer's  eyes 
sparkled  at  him,  and  her  lips  were  closed  de 
murely. 

"  Ye  don't  say  so !     Then  you  wuz  the  gal !  " 

Betty  nodded. 

"  Wall,  we  've  found  out  who  she  wuz,  anyway," 
said  the  old  man  with  satisfaction.  "  And,"  he 
viewed  Andreas  leniently,  "  ye  might  take  up  with 
a  worse  feller  'n  Russell,  after  all." 

Gerard  was  gravely  emptying  the  contents  of  his 
full  basket  on  the  beach. 

"  What  are  you  doing  ?  "  asked  Andreas,  viewing 
in  wonder  the  mass  of  common,  scentless  green 
that  fell  upon  the  pebbles. 

"  Nathalie  insisted  on  filling  the  basket  with  some 
thing  at  the  last  minute,"  explained  the  lieutenant, 


312  MISS   ARCHER   ARCHER. 

"  but  it  does  n't  matter  now  if  you  do  know  that 
we  forgot  all  about  looking  for  fir  balsam." 

Cap'n  Levi's  tooth  aided  in  the  general  laugh. 

"  Git  aboard !  git  aboard !  "  he  commanded.  "  I 
guess  neither  one  o'  ye  '11  begrech  me  sailin'  the 
bo't  goin'  back ;  and  if  signs  an'  omens  caount  fer 
anythin',  I  sh'd  say  the  very  best  place  this  party 
kin  head  fer  's  a  Pulpit !  " 


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